Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Provides Update on David de Gea & Hails Cavani Impact in Southampton Win
By Tom Gott
The half-time introduction of Edinson Cavani helped Manchester United to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Southampton on Sunday.
After conceding twice in the opening 45, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought Cavani off the bench, and the summer signing bagged two goals and an assist to inspire United to a late win.
Solskjaer spoke to the press after the game on a variety of topics.
On Cavani's Impact
Attention, ladies and gentlemen:
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 29, 2020
This is Edinson Cavani. This is what he does.
? #MUFC
#️⃣ #SOUMUN
? #PL pic.twitter.com/WenHFzRePv
“He is one of the best because of his experience and qualities, that movement," he said (via the club's official website). "He is one of the best movers you can see.
"He can peel off the shoulder, he can get in front of you, he can pin you. He wants to be in between the two posts, which I love. I love a centre-forward who gets in there. It might hurt sometimes but, when you’re there and you get the ball there, you've gambled and the ball’s been delivered, it's a goal. Two goals!”
Solskjaer also added (via Manchester Evening News): "To have a focal point in the box, that's important for us. We've not really had that since Romelu [Lukaku] left, Anthony [Martial], Marcus [Rashford] and Mason [Greenwood] are different types of forwards, it gives us a great balance and mix and we wanted to mix it up and Edinson had a great impact."
On a Frustrating First Half
Despite falling two goals behind, United were by no means poor in the first 45 minutes and should have found the back of the net at least once themselves.
“I thought we were excellent; excellent pressing in the first half. Mason when he gets the first chance, you can see we’re at it. We were on the front foot; he just didn’t take the chances. Sometimes that happens. Fantastic saves by [Alex] McCarthy, especially when Mason shoots and the rebound to Bruno [Fernandes] - what a save! That was a world-class save.
"Then again, we’ve done enough. I thought we played some fantastic football, created chances - we mush have had five clear-cut opportunities and they have [James] Ward-Prowse, you just can’t stop him. You hope that you don’t give set-plays away because he has that quality. It’s one of them where you can’t blame anyone. It's one of those that when you win, the mistakes we made don't really matter. At the end I was so proud at 2-2 because we did so well.”
On a Club-Record 8 Consecutive Away League Wins
“It’s a difficult league of course, but I think the no crowds away from home has had an impact on that record. We don’t care about that one though, we just care about the three points today.
"The manner they came from the first kick to the last really, you can see the boys were focused, ready. We played well and created chances, we just couldn’t take them all, but we got what we deserved.”
On David De Gea's Injury
Southampton's second, a free-kick from James Ward-Prowse, sent goalkeeper David de Gea flying into the post, and despite his attempts to carry on, he was forced off the field at half-time with an apparent knee injury.
“A knock just above the knee, so hopefully he’ll be ok for Wednesday, but we don’t know. Let’s have a little scan or check tomorrow, but Dean [Henderson] came on and looked very assured.”