Solskjaer: These are the best games

The Reds will walk out under the floodlights at the Theatre of Dreams for a Champions League clash in front of a capacity crowd for the first time since April 2019 tonight, as we meet again with the Spanish side who edged us out on penalties in last season's Europa League final. 

Following our opening defeat to Young Boys in Switzerland a fortnight ago, Solskjaer underlined the importance of United picking up all three points in front of our home crowd this evening, when he spoke to club media's Mark Sullivan...

Ole, we quickly move forward from the weekend. It was a disappointing result of course but also disappointing to see Harry [Maguire] and Luke [Shaw] limp off as well, so how are they?
"Well, that's football for you. That's why we have the big and strong squad we feel we have. Harry, it looks like he's definitely out. Luke, we might give a chance, but he didn't train this morning. So maybe the best-case scenario is he will join us on the bench."

On a more positive note, at training we saw Amad and Marcus [Rashford] continuing their recovery?
"Yeah. They're still a few weeks away so, hopefully after the international break, they could be available. They're working hard, both of them positive, and it's been a long, long time for Marcus of course. Probably the longest he's been out but he's needed it. He looks raring to go, happy and he knows he's missed out on the pre-season, but he's done loads of good conditioning work and he should be ready soon."

So there'll be changes to the team with Harry and Luke, and Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] suspended as well. A big reshuffle at the back...
“Yes, it has to be but as I said, as I started [this interview] with, that's why we have a big squad of good players and I'm sure we'll get a good performance from the ones who will be selected."

And we face an opponent you know well in Villarreal. Your thoughts on them?
"They're a very well organised team, very hard to beat. Obviously we've played them five times as a club and every game's ended up a draw after full-time or extra time. Of course it was disappointing to lose the penalty shootout. It's indicative of them and the results they've had since the final as well. There have been so many tight games and I don't think they've lost since they played us. They beat Elche but apart from that, it's just been draws, with Atletico Madrid, with Atalanta, with Chelsea in the Super Cup final. It's always tight games against them."

Bar a couple of new faces, it looks like they'll line up similar to how they did in the final. There have been a couple of changes, but how much experience can you gather from playing Villarreal in that final?
"Of course the traits are there, the individual traits and the team traits. But of course they've signed a few players with Dia, maybe he'll play I don't know, Danjuma who we know from Bournemouth, so some good players there that would give them something a little bit different. But still the overview is the same. They're a very well organised team, very good on the ball. They played against Real Madrid at the weekend with 65 per cent of possession in the first half at the Bernabeu so that tells you a lot about how technically gifted they are as well."

It must be really important for you and your team to get the three points in the context of this group?
"Yeah, definitely. We had a disappointing start. When you get a man sent off, it always makes it difficult and we couldn't hold out for one point or three points. And they drew at home, which probably puts them under pressure a little bit to get points and results, so it should be tight and a good game."

It feels like it's all set up for a really tight, close game but under the floodlights at Old Trafford, we've said it so many times, it's special, isn't it?
"Nothing better, they're the best games. Floodlights, hopefully a little bit of drizzle, fans always spectacular, the atmosphere will be electric, we know that so it's up to us to play well enough for the crowd to enjoy as well."