Manchester United's Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on November 29, 2020. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has poured words of encomiums on goalkeeper, Dean Henderson following his sparkling display in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash against Milan.
Henderson produced a sparkling performance and kept a clean sheet as the Red Devils eliminated the Rossonerri 2-1 on aggregate to reach the quarter finals of the competition. The goalkeeper did not exactly cover himself in glory in the first leg as a late error gifted Milan an away goal and 1-1 draw in last week’s opening leg in Manchester.
Henderson however atoned for the mistake by producing a stunning save from point blank range to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic from hurling Milan back into the tie. Vying with De Gea for a starting berth, Henderson has now kept 11 clean sheets in just 18 appearances for United in all competitions this season, one more than the Spanish star has registered in 29 games (10).
“It’s a save he should have made last week. It’s very similar,” Solskjaer said with a smile after being asked about Henderson’s confidence.
“No, very pleased for him, of course. Great save. The team is always giving us everything. It starts from the front four with the pressing, really high energy pressing, and then of course the back six and the keeper, we know what they can do.
“Very happy with our defensive foundation. That gives us the platform to go and win games.”
United joined Arsenal, Roma, Ajax, Dinamo Zagreb, Slavia Prague, Villarreal and Granada in the Europa League last eight.
The Premier League giants have only lost one of their past 20 knockout-stage matches in the Europa League (W12 D7), a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla in last season’s semi-final.
Asked if there is feeling that United can go all the way and claim silverware in 2020-21, Solskjaer replied: “Let’s see who we get in the next draw.
“Of course, we’re really happy because we’ve beaten a fantastic, historically fantastic club and a very good team, that is on the way up. “Very pleased with everyone. Of course, we want to go all the way. It was hard to lose in the semi-final last season.”
Story by Sammy Wejinya
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