Ole Gunnar Solskjaer greets fans as he enters Old Trafford.

Ole praises United's second-half showing

Sunday 11 August 2019 20:02

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised Manchester United’s second-half performance after we beat Chelsea 4-0 in our Premier League opener at Old Trafford.

A double from Marcus Rashford and strikes from Anthony Martial and debutant Daniel James enabled us to run out comfortable winners in Frank Lampard’s first game as the Blues’ manager.

Speaking to MUTV and at his post-match press conference, Ole shared his thoughts on the victory.

A CONFIDENCE BOOST

“We’d have taken 1-0 as you want results [in the] first game. You want the momentum to grow because you don’t really think about the performance if you get a win, but, then again, the second half gives us so much confidence in the way we performed. We needed half-time to settle down because the first half was frantic, it was nervy and we gave so many sloppy balls away.

“We tried to flick the ball and the fancy stuff but then we grew into the game and, second half, I thought we were excellent on and off the ball.”

Ole thrilled by United 4 Chelsea 0 Video

Ole thrilled by United 4 Chelsea 0

Watch our interview with a jubilant Solskjaer following the impressive 4-0 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford...

NEW BOYS MAKE INSTANT IMPRESSION

“Of course, [with] Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] and Harry [Maguire], we’ve kept a clean sheet, they’ve come into the team and squad and they’ve lifted everyone, they’ve challenged the other boys because there is competition for places now,” added Ole.

“I’m sure [Daniel James] will remember that for his whole life. He’s had a tough summer with his personal life as well and to start his career like this, I'm so pleased for him.”

GOALS FROM THE ATTACKERS

“The way we scored them as well was pleasing, Marcus coming in off his left side, Anthony, four yards out, tapping one in after a cross.

“Of course, that means a lot for them and I think we’ve shown that we could do both ways: we can counter-attack and we can also score when it's flooded with defenders.”

POGBA'S POWER PLAY

"I think Paul can do many jobs. He can do the attacking midfield job. Today, he was more of the link player and when you’ve got [Victor] Lindelof, Maguire and [David] De Gea at the back, you can play like that. He was asked to play that sitting role and he had to do lots of running in the first half, but we’re fit and he’s fit. That third goal is a fantastic pass and the run for the fourth - I just wanted him to go all then way and open his legs and finish it himself.

"Ive always said he’s a top lad and its such a professional. He loves playing football. He grows more at Old Trafford. He’s a World Cup winner and there’s no point of letting yourself down on the pitch. He lost it a few times but it doesn’t matter."

Manchester United 4 Chelsea 0

 Article

Ole's Reds get off to a dream start with a convincing victory over Frank Lampard's Blues at Old Trafford.

WORK IN PROGRESS

“That’s the job of a manager, that we always have to improve. We have to look behind the results. I would have said the same if we’d had a different result. This is a work in progress and the lads have been excellent from 1 July - before then actually, because they were fit enough for them to implement what we wanted them to. We know it’s just the start and there are relationships to be worked on. The more we understand each other and get to play with each other and show that we’re a team, it’s going to improve.”

FEET ON THE GROUND

“When you start the season like this, the club, the supporters, everyone goes home bouncing and happy. Now it’s about levelling out, start focusing on [playing Wolves at] Molineux on Monday. We know the last two games went against them when I was there.

“So we just have to make sure we do everything we can and there’s no repeat [of] that scoreline.”

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