Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Confirms United Will Back Plans to Cancel the Rest of the Season
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed the club will back any plans to cancel the rest of the season amid coronavirus fears.
The outbreak of the virus in Italy has seen Serie A suspended until 4 April, while all La Liga contests are set to be played behind closed doors until the 22 March. There have been calls, however, for the football season to be cancelled altogether with public health the overriding priority.
And while measures are yet to be implemented in the Premier League, United's Europa League round of 16 fixture against LASK on Thursday night will be played behind closed doors following orders from the Austrian government.
Speaking about the potential of an early close to the 2019/20 campaign, Solskjaer said, as quoted by The Sun: “I would understand if this competition or the Premier League wasn’t played out, under the circumstances.
“Football is for the fans and the game should always be for them. But the main concern must always be the health of the public and whatever decision is made, we’ll back," he added.
“We are playing this game behind closed doors but we might get a different message about the tournament next week.
“We just have to do what we are told and if the authorities think we should go and get on with it, then we do our job.
“The players are focused and concentrating on the job but these are difficult circumstances, not just for football but the whole of society.”
The Norweigian also confirmed he's yet to hear from authorities regarding the second leg at Old Trafford next Thursday: “I’m not aware of any decision about next week’s game.
“We will take every precaution but we have to wait on the authorities.”
If the seemingly inevitable decision is made by the British government for all Premier League encounters to be played behind closed doors, the United boss will be hoping that doesn't disrupt his side's impressive form in recent weeks.
The Red Devils are currently enjoying a ten game unbeaten run in all competitions, with their impressive 2-0 victory in the Manchester Derby last Sunday leaving them just three points off the top four with nine games to go.