Carabao Cup quarter-final: Ole's press conference

The boss is seemingly set to rotate his line-up for the trip to Goodison Park, with the fixtures piling in thick and fast over the festive schedule.

In his pre-match press conference, conducted at Old Trafford after Sunday's 6-2 win over Leeds United, Ole confirmed that, barring any issues in training, the homegrown pair would be on the team coach when it turns up on Merseyside.

He also spoke about how keen the Reds are to claim a first trophy under his management, and you can watch the media briefing below...

Hi Ole. Sorry to ask after that performance about players that weren’t there [against Leeds]. I just wondered with Mason [Greenwood] what the reasons for not being there were? He obviously had a really good game against Sheffield United on Thursday. Do you expect him to be involved in midweek?
“Mason is fit enough to play, he was on the bench. Luke [Shaw] came off with an injury, that had to be done, Edinson [Cavani] has been out for a while, I needed to get him going and Bruno [Fernandes] is one that I also have to protect. It just wasn’t to be for Mason to come on. He will be in the squad unless something happens in the next couple of days, yeah.”

You spoke last season about the importance of that first trophy and it didn’t happen. Is it even more important now that you get over the line and get that first one in?
“Yes, of course. It’s something we aim for. We want to improve every season and to improve from last year is to get to the final and when you get to the final there’s only one thing that matters and that’s to lift the trophy. I remember myself winning my first trophy, even towards the end of my career I think it was Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic’s first trophy in the Worthington Cup, 2006 was it? I think that was their first trophy, and it does give something to a team, so we are desperate to get our hands on a trophy. These players are desperate to learn how to win.”

Jesse Lingard wasn’t in the squad [against Leeds] and he’s not played since the [last round of the] Carabao Cup in September. Is he in line for a recall in the week and also is his future up in the air given he’s not played so often this season?
“Jesse will be in the squad. He’s been working hard in training. He’s been unfortunate with having to isolate a few times. He’s been a close contact with a COVID [positive person], not even having it himself. He’s been very unlucky being away from the training ground a few times. He’s been working really hard and he’ll be involved in the squad definitely on Wednesday.”