Ole: We have to adapt in every game
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his Manchester United team must learn to adapt to the opposition’s tactics in every single game.
The Reds took full advantage of the opponent’s defensive set-up on Thursday night as we put in a dominant 4-0 away performance against Real Sociedad in the first leg of our Europa League last-32 tie.
Despite that, the Reds struggled to break down the low blocks of West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion in our previous two games, something the boss feels we must improve on in the future.
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“You know, every game creates opportunities, it creates problems,” Ole told reporters via video link, in the first half of Friday’s pre-match press conference.
“Teams give you spaces and it’s just a natural thing because the pitch is as big as it is. There are 11 players on each team and some teams give you space behind, some give you it in between, sometimes teams try to press high or press low.”
Ole will be hoping to take advantage of any spaces that Newcastle United offer when they come to Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Reds should expect a similar tactical set-up from the Magpies, as we saw in recent encounters against West Ham and West Brom.
For Ole, he feels the Reds must improve our decision making in such games, if we’re to guarantee all three points.
“We have to learn to adapt to every single game, it’s about learning from every game,” he said. “So, in the last [Premier League] game, for example, West Brom defended deep and it wasn’t good enough from us.
“We knew about the spaces on Thursday so we have to play the game correctly and it’s also about quality, when you create chances to take that last pass or last cross. It’s about getting better and improving all the time.”