Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs a trophy this season. Heās been in charge of Manchester United since December 2018 and steadily improved the side, who lost out on the Europa League to Villarreal on penalties in May, but heās yet to lift any silverware.
With world class talents Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane added to his squad at considerable expense, heās got the best team heās ever managed as he hopes to go one better than last seasonās second place finish.
Solskjaer, speaking in his first pre-match press conference of the season, said Sancho will feature against Leeds United on Saturday and that Varane will not as heās yet to train since his transfer hasnāt been completed. The latter frustrates United fans.
United finished 12 points behind champion Manchester City last season and the gap to the champions was even bigger in the seasons before. Can they close it this term? Can Manchester United win a first league title since 2013?
āWeāve gradually closed the gap and nothing is beyond these players,ā said Solskjaer, when asked the question by The National.
āI wouldnāt put it past them but it will need a very disciplined season with some margins and some luck, but you want to come to April or May and be around (the top). To do that, weāve put the first chunk of work away and now itās about getting results.
"The first game is a big one, it decides the mood in the club with the fans and the players. Then we have two more games before an international break where weāll review if we are where we want to be. We have to start better than last season if we want to mount a challenge.ā
United, with almost no pre-season a year ago, lost three of their opening six games, started poorly the previously season and the one before that. But while in a better position than a year ago, this pre-season has been far from ideal.
A game at Preston was called off meaning no game for 10 days, after players including Jesse Lingard, who was keen to make a positive impression, tested positive for Covid.
Solskjaer likes his players to have three weeks break in the summer, but that means that several returned late after the Euros or Copa America.
āItās about giving them the time off that they need to recover,ā said Solskjaer. āFootballers nowadays, you play 50 or 60 games at the higher intensity level, thereās more scrutiny, social media. They need to switch off. You canāt just add games and add games.
"If youāre successful, that means you have less time. Iāve always said players need a minimum of three weeks to mentally switch off and physically recharge.
"Some have had four weeks, some have had five for different reasons. Some are personal reasons, theyāre had a shorter pre-season ā say Fred, Luke (Shaw), Harry (Maguire), Jadon ā because they went so far in the tournaments. Edinson (Cavani) was a different matter and thatās some personal reasons.
"We need players to play well. We need them to be fresh. The world hasnāt been perfect so thereās quarantine and isolation but Iām sure weāll reap the benefit when theyāve really got going. Some have only played 45 minutes or a couple of games. Normally you need four or five games after a long holiday.ā
Asked about Anthony Martial, who had a poor season last year which was also hit by injury, Solskjaer said: āAnthony will score more goals than he did last season. Mason will only develop. Edinson started (scoring) late in the season (ā20-21). I think heāll score more goals. Jadon will chip in with goals.
"I feel confident that the burden is not just on Bruno (last seasonās top scorer) to score goals. He was fantastic, his return with goals and assists since he came to the club has been unbelievable.
"Marcus will lose out on the first couple of months of the season which isnāt great for him but when he comes back heāll be fresh again. To be able to spread the goals among the forwards with more goals is going to be important for us. An attacking midfielder shouldnāt be the only one scoring 15-20 (league) goals.ā
Martial may frustrate fans, but Solskjaer defends him.
āWe rate Anthony. Last season was disappointing. He had injuries, he lost some form. The season before he was our top scorer. I like what I see from him when I see him in training or in the gym. He has that grit between his teeth.ā
āWe need that to challenge at the top. We canāt be too nice. We canāt have a āoh, thereās another game comingā attitude. Every single game and every single training session matters. If you want to be successful, thatās what you need. Hopefully theyāve had a horrible feeling in their stomach like I have because the last game (against Villarreal) ended the way it did.ā
Solskjaer described Leeds as the fittest team in the league.
āYou have to be physically and mentally and tactically ready because the movements are so well drilled,ā said Solskjaer, who has long admired Marcelo Bielsa. āYou have to be brave on the ball and get away from your man because itās well known that the man-marking style is not for everyone. Heās an amazing coach and manager.ā
Solskjaerās side won the equivalent fixture 6-2 last season before a 0-0 draw in Leeds. He needs the former type of result, not the latter on Saturday.
