Ole: We have to bounce back
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the Reds are firmly focused on getting back to winning ways during this afternoon's game against West Ham in the Premier League.
The meeting at the London Stadium (KO 14:00 BST) is our first outing since defeat at Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, and Solskjaer has been pleased with the attitude he has seen from his players in training since that game, in the build-up to our trip to the capital.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with club media ahead of the match, the boss discussed putting our disappointment from Tuesday behind us, the latest team news and the challenge that the Hammers will pose, among other topics.
Here's everything he had to say ahead of our first meeting of two with David Moyes' side over the next four days...
How do you go about putting Tuesday’s disappointment out of your minds and focusing on Sunday’s trip to West Ham?
“Well you learn how to deal with that as professional footballer and how to look forward to the next one. Nothing becomes history quicker than a game of football, I’ve said that a few times. No matter if you win or lose there is always a new challenge and this time we have to bounce back. You can see the boys coming in today and there’s a focus to them. I know the performance is going to be a good one with the right attitude and right approach. I know the attitude will be good from the start.”
How’s your squad looking for the trip to London?
“Scott and Alex have joined in training this morning fully. They look good. Of course we need to have them through a few sessions before we can consider if they’re going to be available. Edinson and Marcus are still not selectable if you like, they’re a little bit far away still.”
Ole looks ahead to West Ham trip
Solskjaer says the Reds are fully focused on getting back to winning ways, in the capital this afternoon...
No other issues picked up from Tuesday night?
“No apart from mental bruising, I think we should be okay, physically definitely.”
As for their team news, of course no Michail Antonio who is suspended and is a big loss for them?
“Yeah that’s how you go through a long season… you want a big squad and sometimes you lose your most valuable players. They’ve got a game tonight so I don’t really know who is fit and not fit, but Antonio has been a top striker for them and a top forward, and of course David will miss him, but they’ve signed many good players so they’ll field a very strong team.”
They’ve had five different scorers in the Premier League already which shows they have threats all over?
“I think that’s one of the strengths of West Ham. You saw last season there were goals, assists and creativity and flair but also there’s the physicality and the organisation that we always know about with David’s teams. They’re hard to break down and they’re always a threat on set-plays.”
How tough a place is the London Stadium to go?
“Very. Last year we, how can you say it nicely, we got away with one! [Smiles] I think coming into half-time only 1-0 down was the best part of the first half, just coming in 1-0 down and knowing that we could Bruno and Marcus on and we changed the game in the second half of course. It’s a difficult place because it’s a good team we’re playing against.”
Usually it’s you and your team that has less time to prepare for a game., but it’s the other way around now and you’ve got an extra couple of days – is that a factor?
“Yes I think it is. I think a Thursday night it takes some getting used to and you always know you’ll play Sunday, you don’t play Saturday and we’ve got the two extra days of recovery. And we have to use them well and I think we have so far and we still have a few days to prepare for the game, we’re looking forward to it.”
We face them a few days later in the Carabao Cup of course – one of these the fixture list sometimes throws up. Does the result on Sunday have any bearing on the next game?
No I don’t think so. It’s a new game, every game lives its own life and of course it’s a different competition. We know that we have to give game-time to a few that haven’t played as much in the league, but we’ll take that when it comes and now it’s all focus and all eyes on Sunday.”
Finally, I almost got through this whole interview without mentioning Cristiano Ronaldo but he did match Iker Casillas’ appearance record in the Champions League which is an amazing feat…
“Yes you know it’s about his longevity and sustainability and his professionalism and his quality. He scored again and I’m sure he’ll score more goals for us.”