Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shrugged off the prospect of topping the Premier League table for the first time in his reign as he insisted his priority is to re-establish Manchester United as regulars in the Champions League.
Victory at Burnley on Tuesday would take United to the division’s summit and would seem proof of progress under Solskjaer, who inherited a side 19 points behind Liverpool in 2018.
United have not mounted a proper title challenge since the Norwegian’s mentor Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and have failed to finish in the top four in four of the past seven seasons.
They have not been top since August 2018 and even then it was a technicality as they beat Leicester City in the opening game of the Premier League season.
But if going three points clear of Liverpool after 17 matches would seem to cap a change in their fortunes, Solskjaer said: “Nobody remembers who's top on January 12th but we're progressing. The league table doesn't really matter now. When you get to March and April, that's when the league is going to be decided.
“We're better off this season than we were at this stage last season. We've played better football, won more games. We're improving. Since Sir Alex left, we've been second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh so it's up to us to establish ourselves among the top four. We've only been there three times since Sir Alex left.”
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Striker Edinson Cavani of Manchester United prepares for the FA Cup tie against Watford. Getty -
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversees the training session. Getty -
Jesse Lingard, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Daniel James train with Manchester United. Getty -
Juan Mata in action during training. Getty -
Eric Bailly, Alex Telles, Teden Mengi, Brandon Williams, Nemanja Matic and Edinson Cavani compete during training. Getty -
Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic and Fred. Getty -
Alex Telles, Fred, Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani at training. Getty -
Mason Greenwood during the Manchester United training session. Getty
Solskjaer won the Premier League six times in 12 years as a United forward but believes the division has changed since then with the rise of more challengers. He expects the most competitive title race for years.
He explained: "It's a different ball game to when I was a player. We were disappointed if we didn't win the league. But now so many teams consider themselves candidates. There will be ups and downs and less consistency in performances and as a fan it's more interesting, compared to last season when just one team ran away [with it]."
United will give Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly fitness tests before Solskjaer picks his team for Turf Moor. Defenders Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof are likely to return after missing Saturday's FA Cup win over Watford. United will also be able to welcome back Edinson Cavani, who served a three-match ban for an Instagram post.
“Edinson has trained well when he's been banned,” Solskjaer said. “He's had a couple days off. He is ready to go. He gives us a different option. I'm glad to have him back, that's why we brought him in. He's contributed so far. He'll be really important for us until the end of the season."
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Manchester United v Watford ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Dean Henderson, 6 - United’s domestic cup keeper this season and though he didn’t have a lot of shots to make, was kept busy by the Championship side who started slowly but caused attacking threats. Another clean sheet. Reuters -
Brandon Williams, 6 - Faded from view this season and faces an uncertain United future. Needed to focus for 90 minutes as United defended a slender lead night against the side who are sixth in the Championship. Action Images -
Eric Bailly, 7 - Headed an out swinging corner wide after 19 minute when he was in space. Taken off just before half time with a neck injury. A shame. Reuters -
Axel Tuanzebe, 7 - Strong as Watford improved after a limp start. Needs to be getting more minutes so another 90 minutes will help. Kept occupied until the last as United failed to capitalise on early lead. Booked. EPA -
Alex Telles, 6 - Superb corner in for McTominay’s goal. Blocked the increasing Watford attacks towards the end of the first half and lively in attack. Challenged by the pace of Ismaila Sarr and Watford’s horizontal passes. Busy night. Booked. AFP -
Scott McTominay, 7 - Fourth United youth graduate to captain United under Solskjaer. Bouncing header gave United the dream start after five minutes that saw United into the fourth round. He’s six foot three, he should be scoring headers. AP -
Donny van de Beek, 6 - Needed a start and minutes. Lovely flick to set up Mata after 45 in the best football of a disjointed first half. Tidy player who is stable in possession in the centre, but he didn’t sign to play against Championship sides in the FA Cup. EPA -
Daniel James, 6 - Played wide left and started well, but was twice caught out leading to Watford attacks. Got into right positions and had the pace to take advantage, but room for improvement with decision making. Timid shot at start of the second. AFP -
Mason Greenwood, 5 - Disappointing in the first half where he was barely involved. Came off after 68 minutes. Needs to find his mojo and form again. EPA -
Jesse Lingard, 6 - Nice style and start to the game on a rare appearance. Needs to be playing football more regularly. That’s not going to be at United, so it would serve all parties best if business can be done. AFP -
Juan Mata, 6 - Drifted into pockets of space and was set up to make it 2-0 just before the break. Really should have scored and put the ball over Bachman. AFP -
SUBS: Harry Maguire, 6 - On for Bailly after 45 minutes. Experience and presence settled United’s defence. AFP -
Anthony Martial, 6 - On for Greenwood after 68 minutes. Lively. Blocked a 93rd minute free kick as Watford threatened until the last against a substandard United. PA -
Marcus Rashford, 6 - On for James after 68 minutes. Pace and skill improved United and he had a decent solo effort before a tame shot on goal. Took on too many players in another attack. Wants to play in as many games as possible and score 30 goals this season. PA -
Nemanja Matic, N/A - On for Lingard after 80 minutes to see the game out. EPA -
WATFORD RATINGS: Daniel Bachman, 7 – Forced into an early save as he denied Daniel James with two strong hands, but he couldn’t keep out Scott McTominay from the resulting corner. He was excellent beyond that though and made some smart stops to keep the deficit to just one. AFP -
Marc Navarro, 6 – He probably sensed a long night ahead when James decided to get on his bike in the first couple of minutes, but he settled into the game as it went on and managed to provide a couple of crosses from the right. Reuters -
Francisco Sierralta, 6 - The Italian did well to marshal Mason Greenwood out of play on the Watford right and - despite giving the England youngster a frustrated shove - he produced a largely robust display at the back. AFP -
William Troost-Ekong, 6 - Despite United’s unrelenting first-half pressure, the Nigeria international produced a steady performance and did well to get his body across the path of the charging James which allowed Francisco Sierralta to clear the danger. EPA -
Adam Masina, 7 - Almost conjured an unlikely equaliser when he squeezed his effort under the outrushing Dean Henderson, who was bailed out by Tuanzebe, and he was good value at the other end too with an important block to thwart Juan Mata. EPA -
Ismaila Sarr, 7 - Showed his frightening pace for the first time just past the 10-minute mark but his endeavour was matched by Axel Tuanzebe, before another burst saw the winger’s scooped cross drop just beyond the back-post. AP -
Nathaniel Chalobah, 6 – One of the more established players in the Watford XI, the skipper drilled a decent effort wide of goal after collecting a loose ball and won his side a corner via a deflection with another effort from distance, but he limped off late on. Getty -
Will Hughes, 6 - Struggled to impose himself in the middle in the first-half as United dominated, but he asked questions with his deliveries into the box and almost assisted the leveller when his seemingly under-hit free-kick was nearly converted by Adam Masina. EPA -
Philip Zinckernagel, 5 - A tough evening for the Danish debutant, who couldn’t produce the required accuracy as his cross from the left evaded a sea of white shirts in the United box and was replaced for the final 15 minutes. Getty -
Joao Pedro, 6 – The Brazilian produced a leap as graceful as you’ll see without getting remotely near the ball as McTominay put United ahead, but he was much closer to connecting at the other end with the latter on hand again to cut out Ismaila Sarr’s cross. Reuters -
Andre Gray, 5 - A big opportunity for the striker in Troy Deeney’s absence, but he was feeding off scraps for most of the tie, although he tried his best to make a nuisance of himself and was involved in a lovely one-two exchange with Sarr. AFP -
SUBS: DF Jeremy Ngakia, 6 - A first FA Cup appearance for the former West ham United man who replaced Adam Masina in the 58th minute, although he gave the ball away with his first touch. EPA -
Ken Sema, 6 - The Sweden international replaced Sarr in a double-change and immediately looked lively as he charged after Harry Maguire, but his next involvement saw his set piece drift straight out of play. EPA -
Ben Wilmot, N/R - Brought on for William Troost-Ekong for the final 15 minutes or so. He never really looked like getting anywhere near the flying Marcus Rashford who effortlessly breezed past the defender. Reuters -
Joseph Hungbo, N/R - Replaced Philip Zinckernagel on the left. The 20-year-old former Aldershot didn’t see much of the ball, although his deflected effort wasn’t too far from sneaking in at the back post. Reuters -
Daniel Phillips, N/R - Brought on for the closing stages following a hamstring injury to Nathaniel Chalobah, which will have Hornets’ boss Xisco Munoz sweating ahead of his side’s clash with Huddersfield Town next weekend. Getty
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The Uruguayan’s predatory streak could be useful against a Burnley side who have only conceded twice in five league games. “It's hard to score against them, they don't concede many chances,” said Solskjaer.
While United are bringing in the Ivorian winger Amad Diallo, whose move from Atalanta was arranged in October, Solskjaer said it is less likely they will buy in the winter transfer window.
“The signings we made in the summer strengthened the squad really well,” he added. “Good signings, good players. January is more difficult but if something comes up, that's different. Good teams don't want to lose their players so unlikely on the 'in' side. There might be a few players going out, which is good for the good of their careers."
Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are potential departures. Jones did not make United’s Premier League squad for the first part of the season while he and Rojo were omitted from the Champions League 25-man group. Fosu-Mensah is likely to join Bayer Leverkusen.
