Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Discusses Man Utd's Title Ambitions
By Tom Gott
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has claimed that he will know more about his side's title ambitions once the festive period is over.
Despite all the doom and gloom surrounding United this season, Solskjaer's men sit eight points behind leaders Liverpool with two games in hand, and they could move as high as fifth with a big victory over struggling Sheffield United on Thursday.
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— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 16, 2020
That game will start a run of six matches in 15 days, and Solskjaer insisted that United's response to their hectic schedule will be make-or-break to their aspirations of winning the Premier League title this season.
“I'd be disappointed if the players didn't think we can put a challenge up,” he said (via The Telegraph). “At the moment, anything goes in the league. There's different reasons for different results, I feel we're getting better but we have to improve quite a bit to take that next step as well.
“This is a big run of games for us. After the Aston Villa game on New Year's Day, we have a little bit of a break in the league. This period is going to be vital and it'll be easier for me to answer about the season around that time.
“This season is going to be very unpredictable and up and down. Whoever finds the consistency and the energy will have a better chance than in the last few seasons, because there's been a few runaway teams.”
“For us, the quicker we can get the game in hand against Burnley played the better so that the league table looks as it should be.”
Despite challenging his team to prove their title credentials, Solskjaer confessed that it will be a huge ask for his side to cope with the physically demanding schedule coming their way.
“With regards to six games in 15 or 16 days, it's probably difficult to perform at the top level every game,” he added. “That's why we've got to be good at rotating, resting and finding moments to give them a chance in games.
"It would've been nice with five subs, even just to be involved in a squad of 20 not 18 – you don't have to leave two out, because that's a mental strain as well, even if some of them will maybe be happy to stay at home at Christmas!
“In these times you don't have too many places to go, so they're recovering quicker, the players have stricter rules and protocols to follow, so I think they should be able to physically cope with it if they are mentally ready for it.”