'The football will get better with fans'

The Reds have been unusually goal-shy in the Premier League at the Theatre of Dreams this term, scoring only three times in our six home outings, and there is little doubt the derby lacked the usual spark off the crowd. 

With the review of the Government's tier restrictions due to take place before the visit of Leeds United next weekend, it is hoped the City stalemate could be our last behind-closed-doors home match.

Even if it is likely only 2,000 spectators will be permitted, the boss says the ground is more than ready to welcome a lot more supporters back inside.

"Well, I think we want fans in safely and surely," he said. "There must be a way we can get more and more fans in quickly. I know our club, we have looked at it many, many times and we're ready to give a lot more people than the 2,000 or 4,000 [permitted].

“So you know we've got a big capacity here. I don't think there are very many that enjoy football more without fans. The quicker we get fans back in, the better the football will be."

United may have struggled for goals but some of the league's best sides have visited Old Trafford already, which may end up being to our detriment if supporters do return in anything like normal numbers later in the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea and now City have all played us at the Theatre of Dreams, and Ole feels this has had an impact on our low goal return.

"Teams have a lot of respect for us in the way they've set up in the games," he said. "Home and away doesn't really matter now. We're going to have to look back at these stats and there are not going to be a lot of home teams having the better results. When we get fans in, the better advantage we'll get from them - the extra passion and extra energy from them will definitely make a difference."