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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provides injury updates on Pogba and speaks out on Martial, De Gea, Fellaini deals: Press Conference
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s perfect start at Manchester United may have come to an end, but the Red Devils have a chance to make three points this weekend at Leicester.
Ahead of the trip on Sunday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken out to the press.
Solskjaer gives an update on the fitness of Martial and Pogba: “We’ve not had a proper session since the game so hopefully both of them can get through that I don’t think there’s anything with Paul. Anthony will do some rehab work I would imagine him to be involved, he seemed happy yesterday.”
What discussions did you have with Fellaini and the club about him?
Nothing’s confirmed there yet so obviously what I talk to players about would have to be between the two of us and we had good discussions, talked about obviously he got injured, so we spoke about that but nothing’s confirmed so I can’t say more, really.
Martial signed his contract is that a statement of intent from the club?
It’s a confirmation that we are happy, with him, we believe in him he’s got fantastic potential, he’s had ups and downs he’s been top scorer, he's been developing, as a young lad moving abroad it’s not easy but he knows he’s going to stay here for the coming future and I believe in him.
How well do you think he can be?
Very good, he’s a fantastic finisher, great ability, he’s young, he’s intelligent, knows his football, I’d like him to do a couple more runs in behind but I’ve not seen any players with the quick feet and the skills in the last third as he has so we’re gonna build his career and hopefully he’ll grab the chance with both feet.
Mentioned Anthony had scored against Arsenal, never got to 20 goals since he got here is he capable of doing that?
Yeah, he has the capability but as I said here I’d like him to make a few more runs in behind because he doesn’t miss chances, he's a fantastic finisher, he needs to get more chances, you’ve got to read and sniff wherever there’s a chance, maybe some scruffy goals at times, him and Marcus score loads of worldies goals but those tap-ins and making them runs could go a long way to do that.
Do you think Martial has the potential to become the best in the world like Ronaldo?
Well of course that’s up to any player if you make a decision on how to develop your own career, Cristiano was the best, the way he’s changed to now, that’s part of any player you’ve got to model yourself on someone but you’ve got to have more challenges ahead of you and for Marcus and Anthony is to score more simple tap-ins.
Marcus and Anthony similar in age, do you think they can feed off each other and push each other on?
Yeah, healthy competition but they can also create a relationship and get an understanding of each other because both are v good coming in off the left, if one plays central then opposite movements because they go out to in but when they play central they go in to out so in the coming years we’ll see loads of combinations between those two.
Can you see Anthony playing centrally?
Definitely, because Anthony’s preferred position would probably be a number nine, most of them want to play through the middle, but where you put out from the start it’s more the defensive position, we want them to rotate, interchange, you’ve got to get into the box to score. A while ago it didn’t look likely he was going to say, in his statement, he thanked you, how does it work when you’re caretaker? How much impact do you have? I speak about my experience at this club what he can achieve at this club and as I said many at the time, I’m here to guide players until the summer and you talk about Cristiano’s career, what he’s made, how he’s got there and all the fantastic players we’ve got, if Anthony sat down and wants to be a part of this and the club have got a top player there. I’ve been here for 15 years, coach, player, manager and know how much this club can give to your career and I think by being honest with him it’s the best place to be, I made my career here so it was easy to sell the club to Anthony but he knows what we’re capable of.
Do you think De Gea will be persuaded to sign a new deal?
The club’s working on a few players, I don’t know how far but it’s a statement from the club we want to keep our best players. I hope so.
February looks a challenging month for you, how equipped do you think the squad is?
It’s very equipped, we’ve had now six weeks together, found out what strengths weaknesses we’ve got, we’ve risen to most of the challenges, maybe the setback of the Burnley goals we conceded, make us move to the next level because we’ve given ourselves a chance now to get into the top four earlier than we thought but there’s not too many games, tough opposition, we start with this game against Liverpool, Fulham away as well and then the three big ones with PSG, Liverpool and Chelsea, Palace away, it’s a tough month but we’re ready, I’ve got a big squad, it’s only Marcos Rojo now who’s out for a period.
Relief the midweek results went your way?
It didn’t surprise me, always happens in Premier League, anyone can beat anyone, we went up to Newcastle beat them and they go and beat City so every single game here you’ve got to be spot on, two or three instances cost us against Burnley.
Leicester beat City in Dec and drew with Liverpool, they’ve had quite a say in the title race...
They beat Chelsea. I watched the game Wednesday night, a team full of energy pace, they defend well, drop back and defend so hard to break them down and they’ve got the pace up front so it’s gonna be a tough challenge but we like challenges.
Standings
England, Premier League