Ole issues a goal challenge to his players

The Reds have scored several impressive strikes in recent weeks - including Nemanja Matic’s effort against Manchester City on Wednesday night - but the boss feels adding more scrappy goals to our game are needed to increase our scoring tally.

Despite beating City 1-0 in the second leg of our Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, one more goal at the Etihad would have ensured the two-legged tie ended 3-3 on aggregate and forced a penalty shoot-out.

However, United failed to find that crucial goal and were eliminated from the competition - something Ole believes United can work on in the coming months.

“I’ve spoken about this so many times, we know it’s going to be inconsistent this season and while we’re building,” the boss said after Wednesday’s derby win.

“But it shows how good we can be and how good these boys can become. Yes, we want to eradicate those defeats but I think everyone watching us knows what we’re trying to do and we’ll get there.

“We’ll add players and the culture here, with the character and attitude, is there. Today, the quality wasn’t great, sometimes that happens and it might happen again. We need more goalscorers and more goals, that’s a definite.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Ole expanded on how our strikers’ movements can improve, saying: “I need someone who wants to break their nose to score a goal or a toe. 

“It doesn’t have to be about the nice goals. I’m challenging them and I need to challenge them more because we can’t just score nice goals.

“Today, we pegged them back at times and played them deep but we couldn’t create those chances and those moments. We’re going to get there, no doubt, because these players want to learn and have improved so much.”

Solskjaer is convinced he will change the mindset of his players to ensure they are always as hungry to hit the back of the net as he was in his playing days.

"I’ll never accept players not wanting to score goals and easy goals," he added. "They’re easy goals when you make the right movements and stay in the box. So I’m going to work with them and we’re going to work and work until we get it done."

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