‘Don’t even start!’ – Solskjaer slams ‘disrespectful’ question
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was annoyed at a question from one journalist on Wednesday night and claimed his Man Utd players are “the luckiest men in the world”.
Man Utd found themselves two goals down at the break in a crunch Champions League Group F fixture against Atalanta at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, with Fred and Scott McTominay the only players named in the midfield.
Solskjaer’s side were staring down the barrel of a fifth loss in eight matches in all competitions and were booed by some fans as they trudged off at half-time, only to storm back memorably and win 3-2.
Man Utd lean into chaos to mask Solskjaer blunder
Marcus Rashford struck on his first start since the Europa League final and Harry Maguire lashed home a leveller, setting up a box-office finish that Cristiano Ronaldo delivered with a powerful header from Luke Shaw’s cross.
When asked by BT Sport reporter Des Kelly whether the Man Utd players were playing for his future, an annoyed Solskjaer hit back: “Don’t even start!
“Don’t disrespect the players. They played for Manchester United and they’re the luckiest men in the world. I said that to them.
“Tonight they are the luckiest men in the world, the XI plus the subs, they’re the ones that can play for United and that’s what so many millions of boys and girls want to do.”
“They never stopped believing, they kept on going.”
“Don’t disrespect the players, they play for Man Utd.”
A passionate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his players after yet another #UCL comeback at Old Trafford.
🎙 @TheDesKelly pic.twitter.com/aF4PFY2ZAG
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 20, 2021
Man Utd are now preparing for Sunday’s mouth-watering Premier League encounter with rivals Liverpool – a match Rashford needs assessing before having received a dead leg.
“I don’t know,” Solskjaer said of the England international’s availability for the weekend. “I hope so and I think so. It’s a dead leg and sometimes that can take longer than what you want but if we treat it well he should be OK.“
Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini was understandably frustrated to leave Old Trafford having been in control at the break.
“Against this team, one moment is enough to change things,” he said. “I think that had we scored a third – and we went close – we could have won.
“We were missing a few players, but those who played did well. We knew United were strong. We learn from these matches, but at some point we want to stop learning and do more.”
