Solskjaer explains why United struggled against Norwich and went on praising his substitutes
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United’s progress to the semi-finals is crucial to develop the squad’s winning mentality.
United struggled to beat Norwich City after the coach made eight changes to the side that easily beat Sheffield United in the Premier League.
The ease and rhythm to United’s attack had vanished and the Norwegian clarified it was the consequence of making so many changes tot the side.
“We’re really happy with going through, Jesse Lingard and the others that hadn’t played and needed another game, they needed minutes to get the sharpness back and in that respect this worked out really well,” he said after Harry Maguire’s extra-time winner.
“The difference between training and games, the competitive edge, will help them in the next few months.
“This team, they played together against Derby in the last round, it took us too long to get into rhythm of trusting ourselves passing between the lines, one and two touches, we moved the ball a little bit too slowly. We kept prodding and we got the goals we needed.”
Solskjaer also praised Odion Ighalo after the striker scored his fifth goal in four starts for the club.
“It was very important (to keep him at the club), that was important for me and we worked hard to do it, Odion knows how much we value him in and around the dressing room, he’s a goal scorer, a poacher, he’s strong, we can play the ball into him, he showed for the second and Paul (Pogba) found him,” Solskjaer said.
“He’s performing well but it also gives me the chance to rotate with Marcus (Rashford), Anthony and Mason (Greenwood) so they can get a rest and we’re fresh for every game.”
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