CARDIFF • Before the match, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke about how he will employ techniques used by former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson to make full use of the talent in the squad, particularly in England duo Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.
"Make these players play, you can't say it's an easy job, but it's a privilege to have that talent and make them express themselves," said the United caretaker manager.
Express themselves they did, and in emphatic fashion, too.
Rashford and Lingard both started and got on the scoresheet as the Red Devils gave Solskjaer the perfect start to his temporary reign with a 5-1 victory at Cardiff on Saturday, just days after replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho.
Call it coincidence if you like, but United scored five goals in a Premier League game for the first time since Ferguson's final game in May 2013.
"Football is easy if you've got good players," Solskjaer told BT Sport. "They are a great bunch of players and their quality is unbelievable."
And it was not only Ferguson whom Solskjaer drew inspiration from. The 45-year-old also revealed that a few words of encouragement from United's record goalscorer Wayne Rooney helped breathe new life into the stagnating club.
5
Years since Manchester United last netted five goals in a Premier League game, under Alex Ferguson.
"I arrived on Wednesday night and had only Thursday and Friday with the players. Wayne Rooney texted me and gave me some advice - so it must be down to him!" said Solskjaer with a laugh.
"He told me to make them play football, enjoy themselves and be Manchester United."
Rashford opened the scoring with a free kick in the third minute and a goal from Ander Herrera just before the half-hour mark gave them a 2-0 lead.
Cardiff pulled a goal back through a Victor Camarasa penalty in the 38th minute, but Anthony Martial restored the two-goal margin minutes later and two goals from Jesse Lingard in the second half added gloss to the scoreline.
The Norwegian said he had worked on patterns of play and focused on getting full-backs Ashley Young and Luke Shaw to push higher up the pitch.
"Your work rate is the easiest thing to work on. It is free. It is the attitude and application of the boys," he said.
"If we approach all the games like this - and we want them to approach them all like this - with combination play and playing the ball forward, then I'll be happy."
Rooney was delighted to see how Solskjaer managed to get the United players, who had looked shackled and careworn under Mourinho, to feel liberated enough to attack with pace and panache.
THAT'S THE WAY TO GO
If we approach all the games like this - and we want them to approach them all like this - with combination play and playing the ball forward, then I'll be happy.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, who is pleased with his team's positive play which gave him a thumping 5-1 win on his debut.
"It's a fantastic day for the club. Manchester United's a big part of my life and it was never nice watching what was going on," said Rooney. "The players obviously looked a bit restricted (under Mourinho). The players have ability and today we've seen that.
"A lot of things were happening around the team and around the manager, which isn't good. Ole's given them that freedom."
That was certainly evident from the comments of United's rejuvenated young players, who were not shy in noting how Solskjaer had given them far more licence to express themselves.
Lingard said: "The lads played with a lot of energy, enjoyment and excitement. When you've got confidence, you put yourselves in positions to score goals.
"That's what we did. We were playing higher and the full-backs were higher. We pinned them back and created a lot of chances."
Rashford added: "He (Solskjaer) wants us to be positive on the ball and always look for the gaps. That was just the start. We're going to improve and get better at it."
Victory also sees United close the gap on fourth-placed Chelsea to eight points, thanks to the Blues' 1-0 home defeat by Leicester earlier in the day.
"We're eight points behind, so our job is to take one game at a time," added Solskjaer, whose team host Huddersfield on Boxing Day.
"We always play well in the second half of the season."
REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Marcus Rashford (born 31 October 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the English national team.. A Manchester United player from the age of seven, he scored two goals on both his first-team debut against Midtjylland in the UEFA Europa League in February 2016 and his Premier League debut against Arsenal three days later.
A 24-team Club World Cup would be held every four years and start in 2021 if approved. 2019, with the headline 'Fifa study to decide fate of 48-team World Cup'. Print Edition
Soccer: Qatar won't decide on 48-team World Cup until it's
Antonio hurts Spurs again. West Ham's Michail Antonio scoring the first goal by a visiting player at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their 1-0 win yesterday. PHOTO: REUTERS. Published.
Antonio hurts Spurs again - theworldnews.net
Gareth Bale's agent says the Wales international remains '100 per cent' committed to Real Madrid. Bale has been persistently linked with a move away from the Bernabeu this season, having
Bale '100 percent' committed to Real claims agent | Sport24
Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) Pep Guardiola is not concerned about the way his Manchester City players use social media, despite a post from Kyle Walker that appeared to mock Premier League
Pep Guardiola Not concerned About Players Social Media Use
Win over Watford more like draw: Ole, Football News & Top
Van Gaal's claims seem at odds with the more entertaining football played by United since Solskjaer started a reign that looks set to bring him the manager's job on a permanent basis.
Solskjaer boosted by Mourinho's work, claims Van Gaal
Mar 25, 2019 · Cardiff will tell Fifa that Emiliano Sala's move from Nantes was invalid when they respond to a complaint over their refusal to pay the Ligue 1 club his £15m transfer fee
Cardiff not intending to pay Sala fee | Footy Accumulators
Read more about Ten-man Schalke draw blank ahead of Man City clash on Business Standard. Schalke 04 warmed-up for the Champions League visit of Manchester City with a goalless draw at home to fellow Bundesliga strugglers Freiburg on Saturday.Schalke are winless in their last three Bundesliga games and sit just above the relegation
Solskjaer hails character of players despite winning run coming to an end Last updated: 30 January 2019 - 12.06am Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United delivered an emphatic response to anyone who questioned their battling qualities after a stirring fightback against Burnley.
Makeshift Barca side beaten at Celta and lose Dembele to injury making 11 changes but forward Ousmane Dembele suffered an injury setback ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game at Liverpool
barcelona: Makeshift Barcelona side beaten at Celta Vigo
Liverpool blew a chance take a vice-like grip on the title race and Chelsea suffered their worst league defeat in 23 years. | EPL PIX: Leaders Liverpool stumble, Chelsea collapse
Leaders Liverpool stumble, Chelsea collapse - Egypt Today
Football: Australian female players to earn same base pay as
Irving sends teaser with July 1 remark, Football News & Top
0 comments:
Post a Comment