Solskjaer reacts to three-goal success

The Reds breezed into the knockout stages of the Europa League, and have to still to concede a goal, ahead of the two final Group L fixtures against Astana and AZ Alkmaar.

Speaking to MUTV and at his post-match press conference at Old Trafford, the boss was pleased with the night's work...

SMILES ON FACES

"I thought the first hour was good. We created chances, there were smiles on the players' face, there were smiles on the fans' faces, and the coaches' faces, and we could have scored many more. But you can't have everything. I definitely wanted more goals. Always! I said it yesterday in the press conference and I think sometimes you look back on these games and think that you should have had a hat-trick, or more goals, but we got the 3-0 win and we are very happy with that."

ALL THREE FORWARDS ON SCORESHEET

"Yeah, and the reason we put the three of them together is that we know they are a dangerous trio, with players behind them who can provide chances. Well done to Mason [Greenwood] for a very, very calm finish. He was composed and waited for the keeper. The second one was from Anthony [Martial] and was probably the skill of the night. Then it was great to see Marcus [Rashford] finishing with his left foot. He will get into those positions quite often in a game. For him to go on the outside, on his left, it is not great for defenders to see. It is good for us because he can go inside on his right and then finish with his left."

RASHFORD IN FORM

"He got into some great positions. I think he made some excellent runs. There were some great passes to play him though and then the finish. The keeper [Vladimir Stojkovic] made a couple of saves and sometimes he didn’t hit the target. But I think the goal he scored will give him loads of confidence."

ENCOURAGING SIGNS

"This is a little bit of a template on how we want to play, definitely. But, of course, it’s the opposition that allow you to play that way as well. No disrespect to Partizan but they gave us spaces. Of course, when we scored the first goal, they went forward, but that was pleasing for me that we went forward and needed the second and the third. Too many times we’ve been 1-0 up and not got the second. But these boys are learning and tonight will give them loads of pointers on how to play and how we play when we’re playing well, even though the opposition isn’t the same as in the Premier League. It was still good principles."

THROUGH TO THE LAST 32

"It is fantastic. There are many pleasing things - we are giving game time to youngsters and we are not conceding goals. The away game against AZ Alkmaar looks like it was an important one. They are a good side. They will go far in this tournament so the last game in this group, against them, will be a tough one. December is going to be hard and January has loads of games. Hopefully, we can get through in the [Emirates] FA Cup and Carabao Cup. To be able to give game time to other players in the last two will give us room to rest a couple, which is important."

"We wanted to get through as quickly as we can and that long trip to Kazakhstan isn’t one that you want to travel to thinking 'we need a result here’. It might be a possibility to rest a few for that trip now and be ready for a tough week after that game. We have Aston Villa, Spurs and Manchester City in a week and they [the games] are very important."

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