Sometimes you have to do it the hard way: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Manchester United will face arguably their most difficult challenge of the season till now when Liverpool visit Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday. The high-flying Reds are unbeaten in the season and will hope to continue the same when they travel to Manchester. On the other hand, United have endured an indifferent form of late, having not secured the three points in the last three league games. However, the home side will be boosted by the stirring comeback in the midweek against Atalanta in the Champions League group match. United overcame a 0-2 deficit in the first half to win the match 3-2, thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s late towering header. 

Speaking about the midweek win, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told MUTV, “We tend to do, what do you call it, do it the hard way. But sometimes you have to do it the hard way, sometimes you have to find a way of getting back into the game. For us, half-time came at a good time, then we could align everyone’s mindsets, both crowd and players, and as staff we were very confident that we could just start the second half really well and then build on that one.”

“Of course, we needed the first goal, but that came from the work the players put in in the second half. If you see the start we make, Luke presses, he’s in the box within five seconds and they had kick off, so we were on the front foot, they just kept on believing and of course some very good goals we scored.”

‘I’ve never doubted the boys’ character’

On the back of the incredible comeback, Ole was asked what can be said about the character of this group since a lot of the players, who had been questioned, rose to the forefront in the Champions League match. “Yeah, you know, football, Manchester United, pressure reveals character,” he added. 

“I’ve never doubted the boys’ character, we’ve got a good group of players, good, strong mindset. Sometimes, you know, you need that little bit of back up as well. We got it from the crowd. Half-time was a big moment for us, we stuck together through it, and we’ve rescued the three points, put us in a great place in the group and of course we need a few more points, but halfway through we’re in a good place.”

Solskjaer on Ronaldo

It was not just the goal that Ronaldo scored on Wednesday night, but his overall workrate that drew the praise from people. He was sprinting back in the final minutes, putting in tackles and was a willing runner throughout the match. “There’s no fun saying Cristiano works hard for the team, is it? That’s not gonna create the headlines,” Ole added. 

“But you get used to that here, you have to do things better than anyone else. And I wouldn’t expect it any other way, and you wouldn’t want it any other way, because that’s what we’ve always done. That team out there, we know who we’re playing for, Man United, but the crowd want to see players work hard for each other. And they did.”

Solskjaer then provided the squad update ahead of the clash with the Merseyside Reds. “We’ve had some knocks, which you expect during games. That’s good, that we get some players giving everything, and then we just have to assess them. I’m not gonna rule anyone out from Sunday but I’m not sure if everyone’s going to be fit,” he added.