Ole: We have to step up to the plate

The Italians raced into a two-goal half-time lead in Manchester, only for the Reds to be roared on to victory by a fervent home crowd.

Now, despite La Dea's recent mixed form and United heading into the game off the back of a morale-boosting victory, Solskjaer has warned his players they will have to 'step up to the plate' with their 'chests out', as a different kind of atmosphere awaits at the Gewiss Stadium, on our first-ever trip to Bergamo.

The boss was speaking as part of the usual matchday interview with club media, which you can read in full below...

Firstly Ole, you asked for a response on Saturday and got a fantastic one. How nicely does that now set us up for another big Champions League game?
“Well, of course a very good performance and good reaction by everyone. The whole week they prepared for that game really well and that’s got to be the norm now. Every game is the most important one and I think we’ve learned a few lessons before the game and during the game.”

It was obviously a dramatic game against Atalanta last time. What learnings did you take in terms of what you saw from them?
“As we expected, they’re a very good team. Very dangerous. When they’ve got the ball they’re aggressive, high intensity. It was a high running game, with the stats so you have to be prepared for that again, you have to suffer. They had quality to score when they got the opportunities and we had to be patient to break them down because they’re hard to break down.”

Is the spirit and the quality that we showed in that second half exactly what you want to see on Tuesday?
“Yeah, of course. You’re away from home, it’s going to be a different atmosphere. I think the fans were unbelievable that game, I think you have to praise them again. Of course this is a different challenge and we have to manage that challenge. We have to step up to the plate and [stick our] chest out. We have to enjoy a different atmosphere.”

How’s the squad looking ahead of the trip to Italy? Paul [Pogba] didn’t play at the weekend but he’s available for this one. Is it good to have someone like him fresh for this match? He also had a positive impact on that last [Atalanta] game…
“We want everyone to be raring to go and they are. I think with Paul coming back in, we've got another option there to give them problems. It’s going to be a very difficult game for us."

You had great praise for Edi on Saturday, mentioned about him putting in the best training session you’ve seen and how he lifted everyone. In what way was he so impressive?
“It’s just as we said. We needed a reaction. He stood up to the plate with his experience and being a top professional. You cannot let a game of football punish you too much. You have to step up again. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. You have to do everything properly. It doesn’t matter if you win 5-0 or lose 5-0 you have to come in the next day and do absolutely everything right. There was no sulking. He just came in with the determination to prove we’ll rise again. That’s what we do.”

He and Cristiano linked up superbly at the weekend. What’s impressed you most about the partnership? It’s an exciting one for the fans…
“Top quality forwards of course and it’s always nice to see the type of goals they score. Being a goalscorer myself, I don’t think I can claim I would have done any of those three goals any better.”

Finally, do you see this as a particularly key game in the group? The double header often is but how determined is everyone to get another victory against Atalanta?
“You know, halfway we’ve got six points but we need an away result in the Champions League to go through. You can’t just win your home games. This is a great opportunity for us to get points on the board and we’ll go to it with the same focus and determination like we did last time we played them.”