Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Praises 'Exceptional' Man Utd & Assures Mason Greenwood Will Be a First-Team Regular

Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth  - Premier League
Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League / Pool/Getty Images
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised Manchester United's five-star display against Bournemouth on Saturday evening, claiming it was a performance 'the Stretford End would have enjoyed.'

The Red Devils fell behind early on to the Cherries, but the hosts' attacking superstars demonstrated their class from then on, blowing their struggling opponents away and running out 5-2 winners at Old Trafford.

Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth  - Premier League
Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League / Pool/Getty Images

And coach Solskjaer was thrilled with his side's free-flowing display, crediting his players for their 'great attacking football,' and claiming that you 'can see the atmosphere within the team' in their recent victories, as cited on the club's website.

Here are the best bits from the Norwegian boss' post-match comments for you to enjoy.


One for the Stretford End

Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth  - Premier League
Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

“It's exciting. Great attacking football, some fantastic goals. It's too bad our fans couldn't be here and spur us on because you can see the energy in the team, you can see the atmosphere within the team, but, if that crowd is here, that lifts you even more.

"That’s a game for the fans, that’s one the Stretford End would have enjoyed. It could have been six or seven or eight then, so, of course, it's a strange feeling playing in front of no-one, but I think the team is doing exceptional. I think they're doing whatever they can to create that atmosphere themselves.”


Bouncing Back

Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth  - Premier League
Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Although the 5-2 scoreline highlights how simple the victory was for the Red Devils in the end, they didn't have it all their own way, falling behind at the start. But the hosts reacted quickly and turned the game around, much to their coach's delight.

“Well, we didn't come straight back, but there was no panic. We just have to play and play, and trust the way that they have performed and played lately.

"I think it's been very exciting to watch the front players of course, but they get delivery from behind. They get passes, assists, they get balls to work with and we'll keep on working, keep trying to improve for next time.”


Young Guns & Goal-Hungry Greenwood

Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth  - Premier League
Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

At the heart of Man Utd's incredible run of form, are their relentless goalscorers, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, who all found the net on Saturday. But Solskjaer was keen to praise the men supplying his forwards, singling out Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes for their stellar displays.

“Well we know that they [Rashford, Martial and Greenwood] can score goals, we know that they've got pace, energy, they're youthful, they'll learn, they'll improve and, of course, with the players that we have that can provide the passes with Paul [Pogba] and Bruno [Fernandes], and the creativity that we've got in the team now is exciting."

But teenager Greenwood did earn his own special mention, with his boss describing him as 'a very talented boy' and promising to put him in the team as often as possible.

“Yeah, he’s a fantastic goalscorer and the moments he chose the goals for us today were very important moments, especially the second one.

"You know he has a left foot to come inside but I think defenders will have to think about the outside because he can score with his right foot too. He’s a very talented boy and we’ll just nurture him as well as we can, and give him more and more minutes.”


Fernandes Free-Kick Magic

Fernandes got his name on the score sheet with a delicious free-kick, and Solskjaer shared his pride in the strike, and also for Martial and Rashford, who both reached 20 goals each this season.

Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth  - Premier League
Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League / Pool/Getty Images

“What a goal and Bruno's free-kick of course! Anto (Martial) has done that before, but today was a sweet strike and he's just got to 20 (goals).

"Marcus got to 20, so the two of them can settle down a little bit with that and don't have to chase that next goal, because that is a milestone for everyone.”