Solskjaer feels the pre-season will be an opportunity for youngsters to get the feel of training with senior players.
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Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes that pre-season is always a “fresh start” ahead of the 2021/22 campaign as preparations continue at Carrington. The Red Devils will first compete in the pre-season friendlies as they gear up for the Premier League kick-off against Leeds United at Old Trafford on 14 August. On the back of a second-place finish in the last campaign, Manchester United will be looking to build on that performance this time around. “Well, pre-season is always a fresh start, a new start with new opportunities to look forward to the season,” Solskjaer told the club media.
“Some of the players have just started their holiday so we know it’s a depleted squad but it gives the young kids a taste of what it is like to have a proper pre-season with top professionals like Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata in the first team, Lee Grant, Tom Heaton is back. They’ve done it so many times. Mason, Aaron, Axel are first-team players who will bring these boys along and it’s a good opportunity for them.”
Solskjaer has also opened up about a new addition to their coaching staff. “We’ve been fortunate enough to convince Eric Ramsay to come and join the best club in the world and in the country. He’s a very highly rated coach who is going to be working with individuals and in charge of set-plays as well. We’re excited. He’s young, fresh and with new ideas, an innovative coach we know from before, Kieran knows him really well from Loughborough so we’re very pleased with that,” he added.
The manager further informed that some of the players will go out on loan in this transfer window. “We’ve got six weeks together before the league starts and a couple of training camps here in the UK. The young kids will definitely be part of the Derby game and then we’ve got another couple of games coming up and they can be part of it,” he added.
“Gradually, more and more players from the Euros will join in. They’ll get a taste of some football. Then roundabouts early August, some will go on loan. We’ve already lined up a few and some of them are still in discussions between us and the players about where is the best place to go.”
Solskjaer then went on to speak about Luke Shaw’s well-timed goal in the Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy. Shaw opened the scoring on the night after getting at the end of a cross from the right side. “I’m so happy for Luke, I was watching it and ‘what’s just happened?’ He started the attack and we’ve encouraged him to get into the last third,” Ole added.
“We know how technically gifted he is and skilful he is and he hit the ball very, very sweetly. He keeps his eye on the ball, straight laces and its margins again – off the post and in not off the post and out. That’s football for you. Luke deserves all the luck he can get. He’s had a tremendous couple of years with us.”
