Ole: Axel is ready for this opportunity
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskajer has said Axel Tuanzebe is ready to play against Granada in Thursday night’s Europa League quarter-final.
With Harry Maguire suspended for the second leg at Old Trafford and Eric Bailly still out after recently testing positive for COVID-19, that leaves the boss with just two available centre-backs: Victor Lindelof and Tuanzebe.
The latter hasn’t played a huge amount of football since the turn of the year, but Axel’s quality means Ole has no qualms about chucking him into such a high-pressure environment at Old Trafford, as he explained in Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.
The latter hasn’t played a huge amount of football since the turn of the year, but Axel’s quality means Ole has no qualms about chucking him into such a high-pressure environment at Old Trafford, as he explained in Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.
Switching focus
GalleryAfter Sunday's memorable win at Spurs, our attention is now fully on Granada's visit.
“Axel has always been a very positive boy and hardworking,” Solskjaer told reporters via video link.
“Victor and Harry have played, they've formed a very good partnership. Eric's come in and played really well when he's played so his [Axel's] chances have been limited, but he's been training well and he's ready for this opportunity.”
“Victor and Harry have played, they've formed a very good partnership. Eric's come in and played really well when he's played so his [Axel's] chances have been limited, but he's been training well and he's ready for this opportunity.”
Pressed further about which starting line-up he will name, the Norwegian responded: “We have to make sure that we go through. I always pick a team that I think will win a game and I will.
“We will go into this game wanting to win this. I know Granada will want to come and give it their all but we want to build on our performances, build momentum. There will be a few changes of course. Some of them are forced [such as Maguire, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay], some of them are maybe rotation.”
United hold a two-goal away lead from the first leg and a positive result against the Spaniards will see us progress to the semi-finals of the Europa League for a second consecutive season.
“We will go into this game wanting to win this. I know Granada will want to come and give it their all but we want to build on our performances, build momentum. There will be a few changes of course. Some of them are forced [such as Maguire, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay], some of them are maybe rotation.”
United hold a two-goal away lead from the first leg and a positive result against the Spaniards will see us progress to the semi-finals of the Europa League for a second consecutive season.
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