Solskjaer still confident in his players despite United’s worst start
Manchester
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still has confidence in his players despite it being Manchester United’s worst start to a season in 30 years.
The Red Devils drew 1-1 at home to top-four rivals Arsenal on Monday night having taken the lead through Scott McTominay.
The United boss insists there are plenty of positives even though his side sit 10th in the table and are 12 points off leaders Liverpool.
‘There are many things that give me loads of confidence,’ the United manager said.
‘We can talk about performance but it’s results that matter. You can talk about results, I can talk about six out of seven good performances.
‘West Ham, we know, was below par [losing 2-0] but it wasn’t as bad as you lot made it out to be.’
Solskjaer was disappointed, however that his side let another lead slip.
‘How many times have we been 1-0 up and not got the second goal?’ Solskjær said.
‘This is a steep learning curve for us and we’ll keep working hard and, with more experience, we’ll make the right decisions.
‘It’s another game that we’re 1-0 up – Southampton, Wolverhampton, we need to learn to win these games.’
Meanwhile, Pierre_Emerick revealed he kept his cool to score Arsenal’s VAR-awarded equaliser against United despite hearing a whistle as he ran through on goal.
The striker cancelled out McTominay’s first-half goal when his cute second-half finish was given by VAR after initially being ruled out for offside.
Replayed show that the referee Kevin Friend did not whistle until the ball was in the net, despite the linesman flagging.
Discussing the initial ruling out of his goal for offside, Aubameyang added: ‘I think we took the ball, I got a great pass. I was sure I was not offside, I was surprised the referee whistled, but I tried to finish because I was sure.
‘I just heard the crowd say it was offside, but then it was a goal so I was happy.
‘It’s a strange feeling (waiting for a VAR review), you cannot celebrate 100 per cent, but it’s OK. I am happy.’
Solskjaer seemed to suggest to the fourth official that the United players had heard a referee’s whistle after the linesman’s flag went up after Aubameyang scored.
But after the game he didn’t complain.
‘Sometimes you hear a noise and you try your luck, don’t you?’ he said.
Solskjaer was frustrated his team could not find a second goal, but he did not criticise the process that led to the awarding of Aubameyang’s goal.
He told Sky Sports: ‘Another time we get one up and we don’t get the second goal we want to get. That is the learning for this team. We need to be more clinical at both ends of the pitch.
‘We will learn, but today is a steep learning curve for a few. It’s a bad goal to give away, but sometimes you make those passes and it looks good.
‘It was a good finish by the boy (Aubameyang). You think at the time maybe Harry (Maguire) managed to get out, but a few yards onside and a good finish.’ -Dailymail
