Solskjaer explains his penalty decision after costly Pogba miss against Wolves

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba are his penalty takers – after the latter missed a crucial spot-kick to give the Reds victory over Wolves.

It was a surprise to see the Frenchman step up to take the penalty after he was felled in the area following some individual brilliance.

The World Cup winner saw his fourth penalty saved in twelve months, raising serious doubts over whether he should continue to be a penalty contender for Solskjaer’ side.

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Marcus Rashford confidently dispatched his penalty against Chelsea last weekend, so it’s difficult to understand why the taker was changed against Wolves.

But Solskjaer defended his decision to let Pogba take the decisive penalty.

“The two of them are the designated penalty shooters. It’s up to them there and then to decide that ‘this is mine’. Sometimes players feel they are confident enough – Paul has scored so many penalties for us, today Patricio made a good save,” said the United boss as quoted by Manchester Evening News.

But surely it’s more beneficial to have one designated penalty taker, who will be ready on any given occasion to score.

Rashford has not missed one as of yet, so there is no reason he shouldn’t have taken the pen tonight.

Both players are confident enough and take responsibility, but Rashford seems the more assured penalty taker and it’s baffling he wasn’t given the chance to score the winner.

Anyhow, a draw away at Molineux is still a good result for Solskjaer’s side, and momentum can be carried into Saturday’s fixture against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.

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