Solskjaer: We missed our fans against Chelsea
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer naturally had mixed feelings after his Manchester United side drew 0-0 with 'big six' rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford.
On the one hand, he was pleased to pick up a first home point of the Premier League campaign by shutting out Frank Lampard's free-scoring side but of course there was a sense of what might have been, especially if the stadium had been full with passionate United supporters as the Reds created the better chances and chased a victory.
Here are the main comments from the manager's post-match interviews:
OVERALL VERDICT
"I think [it was] two teams that played in Europe this week. I think that showed a bit, the first half wasn’t the greatest. I think in the second half we pushed on, and if the Stretford End is full we might get some help and get that ball over the line. I think we pegged them back, created half-decent opportunities - a great block from Thiago Silva and a great save from the keeper [at the end]. He made a couple of fantastic saves from Marcus, so all in all, it was a good defensive performance and we created enough big chances, or at least the two biggest, that could have given us the win."
HOME CROWD COULD HAVE SWUNG IT
"If we’d had that stadium and the Stretford End full, we could have created more pressure and more urgency because that was lacking. You’re here watching the game and it’s a different sport, and with the fans here they help you. We miss them, we have to say. It's the same for all teams, but I think everyone agrees football is a little bit less, the edge has gone. I can’t wait to get the fans back."
Here are the main comments from the manager's post-match interviews:
OVERALL VERDICT
"I think [it was] two teams that played in Europe this week. I think that showed a bit, the first half wasn’t the greatest. I think in the second half we pushed on, and if the Stretford End is full we might get some help and get that ball over the line. I think we pegged them back, created half-decent opportunities - a great block from Thiago Silva and a great save from the keeper [at the end]. He made a couple of fantastic saves from Marcus, so all in all, it was a good defensive performance and we created enough big chances, or at least the two biggest, that could have given us the win."
HOME CROWD COULD HAVE SWUNG IT
"If we’d had that stadium and the Stretford End full, we could have created more pressure and more urgency because that was lacking. You’re here watching the game and it’s a different sport, and with the fans here they help you. We miss them, we have to say. It's the same for all teams, but I think everyone agrees football is a little bit less, the edge has gone. I can’t wait to get the fans back."
Solskjaer's verdict on United 0 Chelsea 0 Video
Solskjaer's verdict on United 0 Chelsea 0
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SLUGGISH START
"Of course, we all remember what happened to us after the last time we won in Paris. So, that was important for us to show that we can come up against a good team. Yeah, we started sloppy, but I think after about 20-25 minutes and the rest of the game, we kept more possession, we created some pressure on them without too many big chances, but the ones we got were big ones."
IN CONTROL
"We felt in control. I didn't really feel at any moment they were putting too much pressure on us. I felt in the second half we put pressure on them but we just didn't have that extra edge to score a goal, apart from, of course, the two chances that Marcus had. I've just got to praise the keeper because those two saves are just fantastic."
CHELSEA'S 3-4-3 SYSTEM
"Every team has got their own different ways. That system with the three forwards narrow and the three centre-backs, that’s always hard to play against. They played well. They played it against us last season in the FA Cup and beat us. But today I thought we were the closest to winning the game."
"Of course, we all remember what happened to us after the last time we won in Paris. So, that was important for us to show that we can come up against a good team. Yeah, we started sloppy, but I think after about 20-25 minutes and the rest of the game, we kept more possession, we created some pressure on them without too many big chances, but the ones we got were big ones."
IN CONTROL
"We felt in control. I didn't really feel at any moment they were putting too much pressure on us. I felt in the second half we put pressure on them but we just didn't have that extra edge to score a goal, apart from, of course, the two chances that Marcus had. I've just got to praise the keeper because those two saves are just fantastic."
CHELSEA'S 3-4-3 SYSTEM
"Every team has got their own different ways. That system with the three forwards narrow and the three centre-backs, that’s always hard to play against. They played well. They played it against us last season in the FA Cup and beat us. But today I thought we were the closest to winning the game."
CAVANI'S IMPACT
"A nice little run towards the near post, a nice little flick. He almost had another one when Thiago Silva had a great block - that would have been great for him."
MAGUIRE v AZPILICUETA
"Well you always take a chance if you do [put your hands on someone in the box]. The lad just pinned him and Harry maybe shouldn’t have his arms around him. Just have your arms [indicates where] and just head the ball."
VAN DE BEEK ON THE BENCH
"Don’t worry about that, he’ll get his games, don’t worry about that. It’s easy to say who should be playing and more difficult to say who shouldn’t."
"A nice little run towards the near post, a nice little flick. He almost had another one when Thiago Silva had a great block - that would have been great for him."
MAGUIRE v AZPILICUETA
"Well you always take a chance if you do [put your hands on someone in the box]. The lad just pinned him and Harry maybe shouldn’t have his arms around him. Just have your arms [indicates where] and just head the ball."
VAN DE BEEK ON THE BENCH
"Don’t worry about that, he’ll get his games, don’t worry about that. It’s easy to say who should be playing and more difficult to say who shouldn’t."
United 0 Chelsea 0: Ole's press conference Video
United 0 Chelsea 0: Ole's press conference
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POSITIVES TO TAKE
"You have a clean sheet, you have some pressure, you’ve stopped the home run of defeats. You want to win it, of course you want to win a game of football at home, but I think it’s a solid performance when you think of the week we’ve had. We’ve had a very big week with two wins and a draw."
MORE ROTATION TO COME
"It's going to be relentless. It's easy to be a fan and sit there saying he should be playing or he should be playing. They don't know what's going on behind the scenes. The players are tired, they play loads of internationals, come back and play every three days again and after PSG last time, we had a big dip. This time around we've started with a good performance. Maybe we should have had three points but we didn't, we got a point and it's something to build on."
Our 2020/21 home, away and third kits are available to buy now from United Direct.
"You have a clean sheet, you have some pressure, you’ve stopped the home run of defeats. You want to win it, of course you want to win a game of football at home, but I think it’s a solid performance when you think of the week we’ve had. We’ve had a very big week with two wins and a draw."
MORE ROTATION TO COME
"It's going to be relentless. It's easy to be a fan and sit there saying he should be playing or he should be playing. They don't know what's going on behind the scenes. The players are tired, they play loads of internationals, come back and play every three days again and after PSG last time, we had a big dip. This time around we've started with a good performance. Maybe we should have had three points but we didn't, we got a point and it's something to build on."
Our 2020/21 home, away and third kits are available to buy now from United Direct.
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