Solskjaer: Key moments went against us
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rued missed opportunities and crucial concessions on both sides of the break as he gave his initial reaction to Manchester United's 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool.
Roberto Firmino's header in first-half injury time and a punishing finish just two minutes into the second period gave United a tall order to avoid a second home defeat in the space of three days.
However, when Marcus Rashford pulled a goal back to make it 3-2, Solskjaer's men looked well placed to draw level and even go on to win an open contest. Hence the manager's understandable frustration when chances to equalise went begging and a breakaway strike by Mo Salah sealed his side's fate in the final home game without fans.
Here are Ole's key quotes from his post-match interviews with MUTV and Sky Sports...
However, when Marcus Rashford pulled a goal back to make it 3-2, Solskjaer's men looked well placed to draw level and even go on to win an open contest. Hence the manager's understandable frustration when chances to equalise went begging and a breakaway strike by Mo Salah sealed his side's fate in the final home game without fans.
Here are Ole's key quotes from his post-match interviews with MUTV and Sky Sports...
Ole: We should have capitalised Video
Ole: We should have capitalised
The boss was left to rue a couple of key moments, after Liverpool’s 4-2 win at Old Trafford…
OVERALL VERDICT
“Liverpool deserved the win. But it was a game that we should have capitalised on. That start we had, we should have capitalised more on that one and that’s something we have to learn from and will learn from. I don’t think the boys understood that they [Liverpool] were here for the taking. We played well and we played some great football, but when we lost the ball we were a little bit on the back foot. We let them play out and we should have pressed more and made it more difficult, but we’ll learn from it.”
TURNING POINTS
“Just before half-time, just after the second half starts and of course injury time are bad times to concede goals. We gave them three goals really – at least two of them we gave them. And after we scored again at 3-2, when we had our own momentum, we had a massive double chance then. I’ve got to say, how that ball doesn’t go in after that pinball game in there… that was the moment we should have capitalised on. Key moments went against us.”
“Liverpool deserved the win. But it was a game that we should have capitalised on. That start we had, we should have capitalised more on that one and that’s something we have to learn from and will learn from. I don’t think the boys understood that they [Liverpool] were here for the taking. We played well and we played some great football, but when we lost the ball we were a little bit on the back foot. We let them play out and we should have pressed more and made it more difficult, but we’ll learn from it.”
TURNING POINTS
“Just before half-time, just after the second half starts and of course injury time are bad times to concede goals. We gave them three goals really – at least two of them we gave them. And after we scored again at 3-2, when we had our own momentum, we had a massive double chance then. I’ve got to say, how that ball doesn’t go in after that pinball game in there… that was the moment we should have capitalised on. Key moments went against us.”
SET-PIECE CONCERN
"You never like to concede on set plays. We’ve done that too often, so we need to work on that. As for the way we started the second half, we want to play out from the back and we trust the players to do that. Once in a while it can go wrong and unfortunately today it did go wrong. We’ve seen so many times that it’s worked and we’ve played through teams. Unfortunately it’s against Liverpool when it didn’t work. It was really, really poor, the start of the second half. We gave them that third goal."
MISSING MAGUIRE?
“Harry’s been really important for us. He’s been absolutely top since he came to the club. So of course we’re going to miss him, but he’s out so we’ve got to deal with that. We’ve got good enough players to be able to deal with it, we should be [able to], so now it’s about regrouping. Start building our own confidence and momentum again because we’ve got two games in the league and then a final.”
"You never like to concede on set plays. We’ve done that too often, so we need to work on that. As for the way we started the second half, we want to play out from the back and we trust the players to do that. Once in a while it can go wrong and unfortunately today it did go wrong. We’ve seen so many times that it’s worked and we’ve played through teams. Unfortunately it’s against Liverpool when it didn’t work. It was really, really poor, the start of the second half. We gave them that third goal."
MISSING MAGUIRE?
“Harry’s been really important for us. He’s been absolutely top since he came to the club. So of course we’re going to miss him, but he’s out so we’ve got to deal with that. We’ve got good enough players to be able to deal with it, we should be [able to], so now it’s about regrouping. Start building our own confidence and momentum again because we’ve got two games in the league and then a final.”
RETURN TO FORM REQUIRED
“We need to find ourselves straightaway. We’ve got Fulham on Tuesday and we need to start, as I said, building that momentum and confidence because we have two league games left. It’s not a lot of preparation but we should go into that Europa League final ready. So I expect Tuesday to be a good one. Hopefully when we can let the fans in on Tuesday, it’ll be a good atmosphere here.”
“We need to find ourselves straightaway. We’ve got Fulham on Tuesday and we need to start, as I said, building that momentum and confidence because we have two league games left. It’s not a lot of preparation but we should go into that Europa League final ready. So I expect Tuesday to be a good one. Hopefully when we can let the fans in on Tuesday, it’ll be a good atmosphere here.”
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