Solskjaer delighted with Amad impact
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer felt Manchester United fell below our recent standards on Thursday night, in the 1-1 Europa League draw with AC Milan.
The boss was thrilled with the impact of Amad, who scored his maiden senior United goal after being introduced from the bench at half-time.
However, an injury-time header from Simon Kjaer ensured the visitors grabbed a late equaliser to set up a real test in next week's second leg at the San Siro.
Speaking after the game, to MUTV and BT Sport, and at a press conference, the boss shared his view on our performance, Amad's contribution and gave an injury update on Anthony Martial, who was taken off at the break, as well as Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani.
Here's what he had to say...
Ole: Away form can help us in Milan
Watch the boss analyse our draw with Milan, and explain when Rashford and Martial could be back...
AMAD IMPACT
“He's creative and he plays with freedom. Great pass from Bruno [Fernandes] by the way, that’s what makes the goal. Amad, he has been on the pitch before, but a good goal. He has loads to learn and he’ll be better having had that [time].”
TOO SLOW ON THE BALL
"In possession today, we were too slow. Even though we had the same amount of possession as them, we never used the ball well enough and never played it quick enough. We started really slow and are disappointed in that."
HENDERSON REACTION
“Well, it’s a header from six yards. He can save it from there; I’ve seen him save from there. But it’s the structure we lose, we dropped a yard or two too deep and we get blocked. Kjaer makes a good run, he's strong and his marker is blocked off and he gets the header on it. We should have attacked the ball with the men we had there. It's disappointing but that can happen. I've been part of a team that scored in injury-time in Europe myself from a set-play!"
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
“I’m sure the players, the ones who get chances, they take them. Amad took his chance today when he came on. We hope Anthony is not too bad, we hope Marcus [Rashford] may hopefully [be back]. Definitely for the away tie, we don’t know about the weekend but let’s see. We’ll get players back hopefully, they’ll get players back, so it’ll be a good game with two good teams. Hopefully, Marcus is ready for next weekend on Thursday, I’m not sure about the weekend. [Edinson] Cavani, maybe as well for the Milan game away. We should be putting a stronger team on paper anyway.”
Maguire: No excuses for our missed chances
Harry admits we should have finished better against Milan, but remains very positive about going to Italy...
"It’s sometimes hard on the back of the game [at City] we had, but that’s the learning we have to get into ourselves and you have to perform every single week against good teams, because these are definitely a good team.”
CONFIDENCE AND BELIEF
"Of course our away form has been really good and we’ve created chances enough. We’ve scored goals away from home and we’ve got the character, personality to bounce back. We've been exciting and efficient away from home, especially in the last round against Real Sociedad. That's a template on how we want to play in games. First of all though, West Ham then Milan."