Solskjaer: You can’t prioritise any games
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he does not prioritise any of the three competitions the Reds are currently involved in.
Ole’s men face West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Sunday but travel to Turin to play Real Sociedad in the first leg of our UEFA Europa League round-of-32-tie just four days later.
Should the Reds progress in the tournament, the fixtures could begin to pile up again, especially as United are still involved in the Emirates FA Cup action with a quarter-final to play at Leicester City next month.
Ole says he will not rest certain players for specific competitions, although he does believe rotation will play a big role during the weeks and months to come.
Should the Reds progress in the tournament, the fixtures could begin to pile up again, especially as United are still involved in the Emirates FA Cup action with a quarter-final to play at Leicester City next month.
Ole says he will not rest certain players for specific competitions, although he does believe rotation will play a big role during the weeks and months to come.
Ole's pre-match press conference: part one Video
Ole's pre-match press conference: part one
See what the boss said about West Brom, Fred and the return of Europa League in Friday's media briefing...
“We can’t just deprioritise some games,” he told reporters during the second half of Friday’s pre-match press conference.
“Of course, there’ll be rotation. The squad will change. We have to freshen things up when we play Thursday and then Sunday after. It’s impossible in today’s circumstances to play the same XI every single game. You could do it, probably, if it was only once a week.
“We’ll make decisions when we get there but there will be chances in Europe, like we’ve shown before, for other players. If that takes us through the whole way, brilliant. If not, let’s look at it then. We’ve got two legs, two bites at the cherry.”
“Of course, there’ll be rotation. The squad will change. We have to freshen things up when we play Thursday and then Sunday after. It’s impossible in today’s circumstances to play the same XI every single game. You could do it, probably, if it was only once a week.
“We’ll make decisions when we get there but there will be chances in Europe, like we’ve shown before, for other players. If that takes us through the whole way, brilliant. If not, let’s look at it then. We’ve got two legs, two bites at the cherry.”
The boss was also asked about comparisons that have been made between Solskjaer’s squad management and that of former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Although he was quick to acknowledge the Scot's influence on his career so far, Ole believes he still very much has his own way of managing things.
“I’ve been influenced by working 15 years with him, of course,” Ole added. “We’re different personalities but I do manage the way that I think is the right way. I don’t ask anyone how I should. It’s probably just in my personality.
“I loved working under Sir Alex, playing under him. I learned a lot from him, obviously. But it’s been a while since I had a conversation with him, so I’ve not asked him ‘how should I play this one, or that one?' No.
“Gradually, since I came to Man United, I’ve grown into becoming this person. It’s nothing I do consciously, it’s just being myself.”
Although he was quick to acknowledge the Scot's influence on his career so far, Ole believes he still very much has his own way of managing things.
“I’ve been influenced by working 15 years with him, of course,” Ole added. “We’re different personalities but I do manage the way that I think is the right way. I don’t ask anyone how I should. It’s probably just in my personality.
“I loved working under Sir Alex, playing under him. I learned a lot from him, obviously. But it’s been a while since I had a conversation with him, so I’ve not asked him ‘how should I play this one, or that one?' No.
“Gradually, since I came to Man United, I’ve grown into becoming this person. It’s nothing I do consciously, it’s just being myself.”
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