Paul Pogba, Donny van de Beek, Nemanja Matic

Solskjaer blessed with midfield blends

Friday 25 September 2020 11:17

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer discussed his midfield options when he spoke to the media on the eve of our first away game of the Premier League season, against Brighton & Hove Albion.

For last weekend's Old Trafford opener against Crystal Palace, Ole started with Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay in midfield.

When United progressed in the Carabao Cup at Luton Town on Tuesday, the Norwegian opted for Nemanja Matic, Fred and summer signing Donny van de Beek from the off. 

Brighton v United: Watch Ole's press conference Video

Brighton v United: Watch Ole's press conference

Watch as Ole answers journalists' questions on transfers, midfield options and improving in the Premier League...

In his press conference on Friday morning, the manager was asked whether van de Beek, Fernandes and Pogba can play in the same team.

“Well, I think good players can play well together," the manager said.

“But also, Scott [McTominay], Nemanja [Matic] and Fred are good players, so there’s competition for those places.

“I can see lots of different combinations in that midfield, different systems as well. We’re probably going to see them together at some point,” the Norwegian added.  

Van de Beek got on the scoresheet on his debut as a substitute in the Palace game and was also offering an attacking threat against Luton. That is something Ole wants to see more of this season, starting with the match on the south coast on Saturday.

“I wasn’t happy with the game against Palace, of course I wasn’t,” said the manager.

“We weren’t ready to play at the intensity we needed and the quality that we needed. Runs weren’t there. Then again, after the restart in June and July, I thought we’d taken big strides.

“One game lives its own life and I think the Palace one was a very disappointing one, but I’m still confident that we can still break teams down with our quality. But we need some more imagination and some more quality than what we had in that game, that’s for sure.”

The new season is here. Our 2020/21 home, away and third kits are available now from United Direct.

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