Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is calling for improvements from his side as the Red Devils look to make a push in the Premier League title race. United will face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Thursday (December 18) and a win could take them into the top five places on the standings.
The Old Trafford club face a punishing schedule with six matches in 15 days and Solskjaer says his players must psyche themselves for the challenge.
“This is a big run of games for us,” Solskjaer said. “I’d be disappointed if the players didn’t think we can put a challenge up because at the moment anything goes in the league.
“There’s different reasons for different results. I feel we are getting better but we have to improve quite a bit to take the next step.
“I think this season is going to be very unpredictable and up and down.
“Whoever finds the consistency and the energy have a better chance than in the last few seasons because there’s been a few runaway teams.”
Solskjaer’s side will travel to face rock-bottom Sheffield United on Thursday before hosting Leeds at Old Trafford on Sunday and visiting Everton in the EFL Cup quarter-final on December 23. United then head to Leicester on Boxing Day, before they close out 2020 at home to Wolves on December 29 and host Aston Villa on New Year’s Day.
Victory for Manchester United on Thursday will see them become only the fourth side in top-flight history to win 10 away league games in a row, after Tottenham (10 between April and October 1960), Chelsea (11 between April and December 2008) and Manchester City (11 between May and December 2017).
Solskjaer’s team has won all five of their Premier League away matches this season, despite conceding the first goal each time.
No side has ever won six away games after conceding first in a single Premier League season, with Aston Villa in 1993-94 the only other side to do five (from 21 games).
