MANCHESTER (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes the privilege of playing for Manchester United should be about the "survival of the fittest" as he deals with a mounting injury crisis.
Solskjaer had to make three first-half substitutions during Sunday's (Feb 24) 0-0 draw with Liverpool as Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all hobbled off injured.
The Norwegian could be without 10 players in total for Wednesday's trip to Crystal Palace and acknowledged that at least some of the muscle problems suffered by his squad may be a result of the rising physical demands he is placing on them.
United's running statistics have increased significantly since Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho in December.
That has been a factor in a huge upturn in results, with 14 matches under Solskjaer bringing 11 wins and just one defeat.
"It's probably linked, yes," said Solskjaer. "But when do you make that change? Do you wait until pre-season and think you will change results by just not asking them to run?
"Or do we start now and show them demands of intensity and how we want to play?"
The caretaker manager has made a point of getting United to play the fast-paced attacking game for which they were renowned during much of Alex Ferguson's 26½ years in charge at Old Trafford.
"You have seen what I have chosen," he added. "We need to play as a Manchester United team. If you want to be a part of Manchester United, it's a survival of the fittest isn't it?"
Solskjaer acknowledged that the physical demands of a hard-running style may take its toll on some of the more experienced members of his squad.
But he stressed the importance of professionalism off the pitch, saying his players could prolong their careers.
Â
Â
"They are getting older aren't they, Juan, Nemanja (Matic), Ander. So it's about the preparation, the standards that you have to live up to on and off the pitch as a Manchester United player, and as a professional player in the Premier League.
"It's not just turning up, playing and training and then going home and doing all these little out-of-football activities that we have all seen too many players doing.
"I'm pleased with the way my lads have responded in that way, that we don't see too much of them outside football.
"That was a big part of my career - as long as you are a footballer and you play in the Premier League, make the most of it because suddenly you get these injuries and you are done."
Solskjaer, meanwhile, is confident that Romelu Lukaku will get himself into the right shape to rediscover his best form.
The striker, who has gone 10 games without scoring, admitted in December that the muscle mass he put on to help Belgium finish third at last year's World Cup has hampered his form at club level.
"I can understand why, when you go to a World Cup and see the teams you play, the physicality might take over in terms of your preparation.
"We ask our forwards to work at a higher intensity, to run in behind, but that's what he likes, so I'm sure he'll be fine.
"Muscle is not so difficult to get rid of. He's lean, but he's muscly. We'll get him in the box and scoring us goals, that'll be his job."
Manchester City could be hit with a transfer ban - report A transfer ban for the Premier League champions would come less than a month after Chelsea were hit with the same sanction.
Man City could get transfer ban: report - theworldnews.net
Manchester City Pep Guardiola predicts roller-coaster title run-in after Liverpool blip Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes critics have been too quick to write off his side's chances
Guardiola predicts roller-coaster title run-in after
Valencia president Anil Murthy is confident the club can become of the best in Europe in the coming years thanks to the economic and social stability at Mestalla. After coming 12th in consecutive
Lee Kang-in, South Korea football, La Liga, Socceroos
Jan 17, 2019 · AL AIN, United Arab Emirates (AP) Qatar finished the group stage of the Asian Cup with a third straight win, beating three-time champion Saudi Arabia 2-0 on Thursday in a highly charged game amid
World Cup 2018: Russia vs Saudi Arabia, result, video
This game died out well before modern football was adopted in China. The Chinese government has outlined plans to make the Asian nation a footballing superpower and to create 50,000 special football schools in a decade. Media coverage of football in China. Football is covered by the Chinese media.
ICC 2019 - tickets on sale for Shanghai and Singapore dates. #InternationalChampionsCup #Tickets #Juventus #ManUtd #SpursTour2019. ICC 2019 - tickets on sale for
Tottenham's opponents and dates 'revealed' for Asia
Football: Everton dish out 4-0 thrashing to awful Manchester United to dim their top-four EPL hopes (REUTERS) - A woeful Manchester United suffered their fifth straight away defeat, in all competitions, with a 4-0 English Premier League hammering at the hands of a vibrant Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday (April 21).
Richarlison de Andrade #30 News, Stats, Photos - Everton
Football: Brighton to face Man City in FA Cup semi-finals
Football Federation Australia (FFA) hailed the move as "an outcome that delivers on the gender equity principle of 'same base pay for same base work'". The deal means that players in both leagues "will receive the same minimum remuneration hourly rate", said FFA Head of Leagues Greg O'Rourke.
Australian female footballers to earn same base pay as men
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/06/07/australian-female-footballers-to-earn-same-base-pay-as-men/
Australian female footballers to earn same base pay as men AFP June 7, 2019 AFP No Comments Sydney (AFP) - Australia's professional female footballers secured a landmark pay rise Friday that will see them receive the same minimum wage as their male counterparts.
Australia's women footballers to earn same base pay as men
ST. LOUIS -- The Major League season is certainly a marathon, but the Reds are barely away from the starting line and have already seen their course littered with empty rallies and lost opportunity. Pushing runs in during clutch time has already eluded the Reds early and often, and Monday's 5-3
Reds split doubleheader after missed chances | FOX Sports
NEW Kids Tactical Vest Kit for Nerf N-strike Elite Series Toy Hot. Brand New. $7.29 7 product ratings - Nerf Vest Kids Tactical Jacket Foam Darts Bullet Kit Set
The leaders of the Youth Climate Strike are ready to tackle
Sport > Football > European Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Malcom shines in Lionel Messi's absence as Philippe Coutinho struggles. Lucas Vazquez gave Real an early advantage but Malcom hit back for
The Straits Times - Breaking News, Lifestyle & Multimedia News
0 comments:
Post a Comment