Man Utd not yet ready to challenge for title, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he is happy with his squad but concedes Manchester United are not yet „close enough to challenge for the Premier League trophy“.
United were in fine form prior to the suspension of football due to the coronavirus pandemic, going 11 matches unbeaten in all competitions.
They drew 1-1 at Tottenham in their first match after the resumption and welcomed Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba back into the first-team picture.
Solskjaer admits the duo’s return boosts the quality at his disposal but indicated he still plans to be active in the forthcoming transfer window in order to try and turn United into genuine title challengers next season.
„We’ve developed over the season and I think now we had a spell of 11 unbeaten,“ Solskjaer said ahead of Wednesday’s visit of Sheffield United, live on Sky Sports.
„But then you add Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford to that and you’re thinking ‘yeah, we’re not too far away and I’m very happy with the squad.
„If there are any good deals to be made and players who can make us better, of course we might have to spend some money on that. But the squad is great to work with and it’s moving in the right direction.
„We’re still not where we want to be, close enough to challenge for the Premier League trophy but we take one step at a time.
„Obviously City and Liverpool the last couple of seasons have put the standard where it should be to win the league.
„Hopefully now we can challenge for the Europa League, FA Cup this season, top four and then let’s see how much we can invest for next season.“
McTominay signs new Man Utd deal
Scott McTominay has signed a new contract which will keep him at Manchester United until June 2025, with the option to extend for a further year.
The 23-year-old midfielder made his debut in 2017 against Arsenal and has gone onto make 75 appearances for the first team, scoring six goals.
After signing his new deal, Scotland international McTominay said: „Whilst I understand that we all have so many other things to think about at the moment, I’m so happy to sign this contract and play a part in the future ahead for this team.
„All I have ever known is United and I hope that my passion for the club shows every time I go onto the pitch. I’ll continue to give everything for this club whenever I pull on the shirt. I want to thank the manager for the faith he has shown in me and everyone at the club that has helped me to get where I am today.“
Solskjaer: De Gea still best goalkeeper in world
Under-fire Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is still the best in the world, according to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
De Gea came in for some fierce criticism from Roy Keane for his performance in the 1-1 draw at Tottenham on Friday, with the former United captain saying he was „sick to death“ of the „overrated goalkeeper“.
Gary Neville has spoken of how De Gea’s form is „more than a blip“, as momentum grows for Dean Henderson – who is on loan at Sheffield United but cannot play against his parent club on Wednesday night – to become the new No 1 at Old Trafford.
Solksjaer, however, has no doubts De Gea will recapture his form and does not feel any other goalkeeper in the world is on his level.
„David is the best goalkeeper in the world,“ his manager said.
„He’s conceded two goals in the last seven games he’s played for us. There are two games against City, Chelsea, of course Tottenham, Everton. Two goals in seven games, we’ve gone on a run not conceding goals.
„The Everton one is a freak one, maybe. This one, he cannot save it.
„He makes great saves, he wins games for us and I still think he’s the best goalkeeper in the world.“
‘Henderson ready to be Man Utd’s No 1’
Dean Henderson is ready to eventually become Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper, according to his Sheffield United team-mate Oliver Norwood.
Henderson, 23, is currently on loan at Bramall Lane from United, with Blades manager Chris Wilder confident the club can extend his stay until the end of the season.
But talk of him succeeding David de Gea as United’s No 1 has gained momentum following a drop in form for the Spaniard, highlighted recently by his performance in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham, which earned criticism from Gary Neville and Roy Keane.
Norwood, himself a United academy graduate, says Henderson has what it takes to eventually make the step up.
„Definitely, he’s proven himself this season, he’s up there with most clean sheets in the league so he’s obviously doing something right,“ Norwood told Sky Sports.
„I’ve read a few things from different people and I do agree that there would be a lot more pressure on him going and playing as Manchester United’s No 1 rather than Sheffield United’s – the scrutiny he would be under being England’s No 1 as well.
„I’m sure Hendo can handle that. He’s sure of himself, he’s very confident.“
Soccer Accumulator Bonus
Our fantastic Euro Soccer accumulator offer gives you the chance to earn a bonus of up to 100% on accumulators on the top domestic leagues in Europe along with the group and knockout stages of the Champions League.
This offer applies to returns on pre-match accumulators of 3 or more selections on Full Time Result or Result/Both Teams To Score markets for the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera Liga, German Bundesliga 1 or UEFA Champions League.
The maximum bonus that you can receive is ˆ100,000 or currency equivalent. The bonus will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, the bonus will be calculated based .on the remaining active stake. If a qualifying bet is edited .using our Edit Bet feature. The bonus will be calculated based on the new stake. Where a bet has been edited to include or amend a selection for an event that is In-Play, the bonus will no longer apply. Double Chance bets or combination bets with bonuses. Such as Lucky 15’s or Lucky .31’s do not apply for this offer.
If your bet is successful, we will add the following bonuses to your returns:
Bet Type Bonus
14-folds and upwards 100% bonus
Terms and Conditions
Applies to straight pre-match accumulator bets on the Full Time Result or Result/Both Teams To Score markets for UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera Liga, German Bundesliga .1 or Australian A-League matches. Maximum bonus ˆ100,000 or currency equivalent. Soccer Accumulator Bonus does not apply to Double Chance bets or combination. bets with bonuses such as Lucky 15’s, Lucky 31’s etc.
If any selections are postponed/void then the bonus will still apply, but the percentage bonus added will reflect the actual number of winning selections. For example, an 8-fold accumulator with 7. winners and 1 postponed match will receive a 30% .bonus to returns.
The bonus part of your returns will be added to your account within 24 hours of your final selection having played.
This bonus will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, the bonus will be calculated based on the remaining active stake.
If a qualifying bet is edited using our Edit Bet feature, the bonus will be calculated based on the new stake. Where a bet has been edited to include or amend a selection for an event that is In-Play, the bonus will no longer apply.
Where any term of the offer or promotion is breached or there is any evidence of a series of bets placed by a customer or group of customers, which due to a deposit bonus, enhanced payments, free bets, risk free bets or any other promotional offer results in guaranteed customer profits irrespective of the outcome, whether individually or as part of a group, bet365 reserves the right to reclaim the bonus element of such offers and in their absolute discretion either settle bets at the correct odds, void the free and risk free. bets or void any bet funded by the deposit bonus.
In addition bet365 .reserve the right to levy an administration charge on the customer up to the value of the deposit bonus, free bet, risk free bet or additional payment to cover administrative costs. We further reserve the right to ask any customer to provide sufficient documentation for us to be satisfied in our absolute discretion as to the customer’s identity prior to us crediting any bonus, free bet, risk free bet or offer to their account.
All bet365 offers are intended for recreational players and bet365 may in its sole discretion limit the eligibility of customers to participate in all or part of any promotion.
bet365 reserves the right to amend, cancel, reclaim or refuse any promotion at its own discretion.
