Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Man Utd Team News, Squad Mentality & Coping With Pressure
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has played down the significance of recent results, insisting that a couple of defeats will not see the club collapse 'fall like a house of cards'.
The Norwegian is under immense pressure once more after back-to-back defeats against Istanbul Basaksehir and Arsenal, one in the Champions League and one in the Premier League.
In those games, the Red Devils have looked bereft of attacking inspiration, with breaking down teams who fail to pile bodies forward an ongoing concern. Solskjaer has now fronted up to the media ahead of the weekend clash to Everton - here's everything he had to say in his pre-match press conference.
On Team News for the Weekend
“We've not lost any [players] from the Istanbul trip,” Solskjaer said, quoted on the club's official website. “Same group, same squad.
“Alex [Telles] has started training with us, which is good. Victor [Lindelof] has still got the issue that he's been struggling with. He'll have to be checked tonight [Friday] in the hotel.
“It's the same squad as before Istanbul really.”
On Recent Results
“If I don't trust my beliefs and values and my staff's quality and the players’ quality, who else should?
“I don't look at one or two results and fall like a house of cards. Yeah, it's a setback. [But] I think there's been too much made of not scoring against Arsenal and Chelsea. There was nothing in those two games.
“It's not long ago we were the best thing since sliced bread, beating Leipzig and PSG. [You get] ups and downs in football. You've got to have belief. The club has been positive and has shown me their character and leadership. I'm looking to Saturday lunchtime, which is another matter.”
On Coping With Pressure
“There's always pressure and expectations on us. I've grown up here. I became a man at Manchester United and I've learned how to deal with good and bad times.
“You're a top coach or manager when you win and you’re bad when you lose, because that's the last game you played. You're not really better than your last game. Every game of football becomes history quickly and we've just got to go into Goodison Park in a positive frame of mind.”
On Expectations at United
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, United were famed for their resilience, leading to increased expectations of success. On mental strength, Solskjaer remarked: “You have to be mentally strong. There are demands on a Man United player, a coach, or a manager.
“There’s also an expectation, because we are at the best and the biggest club in the world. You don't expect to have anything but criticism then. It's just how you deal with that setback. From what I've seen from the boys, they’ve been very focused since we’ve come back and [are] ready to give a response.”
On Everton's Impressive Start Under Carlo Ancelotti
“It's not just Dominic Calvert-Lewin, it's the whole team, the set up. When Carlo came in you know that's a manager that everyone admires, players, other coaches, us managers.
"He's had a fantastic career. You start having a little look over there. Of course, they didn't have a very, very good period after the restart, maybe struggled a little bit, but now you can see what he's been working on.
"He’s had a good pre-season and has probably used the restart as well to have a look at his team and [I’ve] been impressed. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been part of that and is integral to their play.”