Football

Solskjaer calm over title push

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’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. /

The Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his team are not getting carried away by the prospect of a Premier League title challenge this season.
United are unbeaten in their last nine games and are second behind Liverpool on the log with just three points separating them from the Premier League champions.
It marks an impressive transformation in the club’s fortunes after a dismal start to the season, which saw them collect just seven points from their opening six games.
There were three home defeats in that run, including a humiliating 6-1 reverse to Tottenham.
The 13-time Premier League champions have been a team reborn in recent months, though, and face Aston Villa on Friday knowing they can go level on points with Liverpool ahead of the Reds’ clash against Southampton on Monday.While Solskjaer is delighted with how his side have improved, he says the hard work has only just started.
“Well, we had a difficult start to the season with the late arrival of some players,” he told the club’s official website. “And I think we have shown after the second international break, the one in October, that we have regrouped and come together.
“We are getting fitter, stronger and the squad is getting better. We just have to take one game at a time, move up the table and improve as a team.
“But we have finished the year strong. I think we have done well since the beginning of February, or end of January, and we have proven to ourselves that we can be consistent over a longer period.
“When you are getting closer [to the top of the table], that gives you a boost and it gives you extra focus.
“The good thing about this group is that some of them have won before so they are not going to get too far ahead of themselves.
“We know that the only way to do it is to take one game at a time.
“I know that is quite a boring statement, but that is the good thing about this group; they are not going to think we have cracked it because in any game in this league, you have got to be at it and that’s why we have a big, strong squad.”
Solskjaer acknowledges his side will have their work cut out against a Villa side who have won three of their last five Premier League games and sit just four points behind United, having played a game less.