It’s a huge week for Manchester United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer attempts to guide his team back on track after some shocking results prior to the November international break.
The Reds travel to Watford in the Premier League on Saturday and everybody will be looking for a good reaction following the disappointing home defeat against rivals Man City, which came two weeks after losing 5-0 to Liverpool.
Solskjaer gave an update on his team’s fitness this afternoon when speaking to the press.
He said, as per Manchester Evening News: “This week has been really positive, there are a couple of doubts with illnesses and small niggles.
“Paul is out for a while, Rapha (Varane) is out for a while, apart from that players will be coming back in the near future, some this weekend, some in the week, but that’s the same for other players.”
That doesn’t bode well for the manager’s defensive selection on Saturday and we think he will revert back to a back four. The question now is whether it will be Eric Bailly or Victor Lindelof to partner Harry Maguire at centre-back?
Donny van de Beek may even get a surprise cameo from the start with Pogba ruled out?
The manager was also asked if the players looked refreshed after having some time off.
He replied: “They haven’t had a chance of mentality, that’s the wrong way of saying it, they love playing football, winning, when we left each other 13 days ago no one was happy when they left Old Trafford. But then there is another game, another game and another game, they enjoy the competition in their countries and this week, it’s been very determined and focused group. We’ve worked on a few things and hopefully, we see that against Watford.”
SN’s verdict…
The players should be refreshed by this stage and there can be no excuses if we come up short versus Watford.
They are positioned in 16th and have had some beatings already this season.
It should be a walk in the park for our players but they’ve been under par all season.
