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MANCHESTER, England — Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can be speaking so much about “progress” between now and the top of the season: how a lot Manchester United have made, whether or not it is sufficient and the way they take the subsequent step ahead. Will probably be a better dialog if this week goes effectively, and United began a vital seven days with a narrow 1-0 win over West Ham United at Previous Trafford on Sunday.
Hopes of ending the season as Manchester City‘s nearest challengers strengthened, Solskjaer’s group now transfer on to competitions they will nonetheless truly win — first to AC Milan within the Europa League after which to Leicester City within the FA Cup. End second within the Premier League and win a trophy and Solskjaer will save himself a summer season of debate about whether or not United are heading in the right direction. Bow out of each the Europa League and the FA Cup earlier than the worldwide break and the identical outdated questions concerning the course of the membership will resurface.
The primary leg of what’s a vital run of three video games has been safely negotiated, and with 9 league video games to go, United are 9 factors away from West Ham in fifth. The chance of being dragged right into a battle for the highest 4 is subsiding and the main target now might be on bettering final season’s third-place end and profitable a trophy.
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“This week was at all times going to be large,” mentioned Solskjaer afterwards. “We need to enhance on final season and get to a remaining and transfer up the desk. This week was at all times going to be about how we recovered after a large disappointment after a late equaliser [against Milan on Thursday]. You by no means know the way that may have an effect on you however the perspective was spot on.
“We’re beginning to construct some momentum within the league and open the hole additional to West Ham. It is a giant week for us.”
Victory over West Ham was not significantly fairly nevertheless it has given United some momentum in the beginning of a pivotal week. Solskjaer has ambitions better than the Europa League and the FA Cup, however after 4 straight semifinal defeats, strain is rising on the Norwegian supervisor to win one thing.
Progress in Europe will not be assured after a 1-1 draw with Milan at Previous Trafford they usually might want to rating at the least as soon as within the San Siro on Thursday in the event that they need to attain the quarterfinals of the Europa League. At Leicester on Sunday there’s a place within the semifinals of the FA Cup up for grabs, and United’s prospects for the ultimate stretch of this season will look so much brighter if they’re nonetheless within the hunt for trophies when the gamers return from worldwide obligation within the first week of April. Within the Premier League, United have extra factors and have scored extra objectives than on the similar stage final yr, however this season wants silverware so as to add some shine.
In his programme notes forward of West Ham’s go to, Solskjaer wrote about being “tougher and tougher to beat.” The numbers again him up with United shedding simply one in every of their previous 23 league video games and recording 4 consecutive Premier League clear sheets for the primary time since Solskjaer took over. Harry Maguire was significantly good in opposition to West Ham.
The trick now’s to go from not shedding to profitable extra typically, as a result of they aren’t the identical factor. Solely Manchester Metropolis have misplaced fewer league video games than United this season, however the Purple Devils have drawn 9 instances and they’re going to want these additional 18 factors in the event that they need to bridge the hole with Pep Guardiola’s champions-elect.
Changing into extra scientific in entrance of aim could be a superb begin.
West Ham did not handle a shot on the right track however had been solely overwhelmed right here due to Craig Dawson’s personal aim within the second half — the fifteenth aim they’ve conceded from set items this season. Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes will all really feel they might have been on the scoresheet. Solskjaer will hope they’re saving the killer intuition for the cups.
“We have had 4 clear sheets now within the league straight up and that is at all times a basis,” he mentioned. “We need to rating objectives. I really feel we’re getting again to the place we are able to, it was solely every week in the past we beat Metropolis 2-0. We do not wanna be grasping, nobody can rating 4 or 5 objectives in each recreation within the Premier League, you have to earn it. The inspiration with the clear sheet, perspective, want, that is there, and we at all times again our gamers to create sufficient to attain objectives.”
Forward of a pivotal week, Solskjaer says United are entering into the correct course. Observe up victory over West Ham with wins over Milan and Leicester to remain on the right track to carry a primary trophy of his reign and supporters will not simply must take his phrase for it.
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