MX23RW : Sunday, January 17 20:37:40| >> :60:1402:1402:

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns title-chasing Man United not to get complacent

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns title-chasing Man United not to get complacent
© Reuters
The Red Devils head to Turf Moor on Tuesday night level on 33 points with reigning champions and bitter rivals Liverpool.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says there is no chance his players can think they have "cracked it" if Manchester United go top of the Premier League with a positive result against Burnley.

After a truncated pre-season and shaky start to the campaign, the Red Devils head to Turf Moor on Tuesday night level on 33 points with reigning champions and bitter rivals Liverpool.

A positive result in that game in hand will see them move top ahead of Sunday's mouth-watering trip to Anfield, but Solskjaer knows a thing or two about winning titles and will not allow the group to get ahead of themselves.

"We have to be aggressive," said the Norwegian, who was part of six Premier League-winning sides during his time as a player at Old Trafford.

"We have to go into every game humble, work hard, don't even think for one second that you've cracked it if you are near the top because that's not the type of players we have.

"We have players who should play on the front foot, aggressive, work hard and be hard to play against no matter what.

"But of course the group mentality is improving all the time so now it's a different challenge, it's Burnley away and we're in this position.

"It doesn't matter where we end up in the league as long as we focus on this game and this game only."

Manchester United won 2-0 on their last visit to Burnley in December 2019
Manchester United won 2-0 on their last visit to Burnley in December 2019 (Martin Rickett/PA)

The trip to Burnley will finally see United play the game in hand that has been hanging over them all season after their opener was pushed back to give them time to recover from August's Europa League finals.

"With the results that we got in the beginning as well, it made it more difficult for the players maybe," Solskjaer said.

"It made it easier for people to criticise us, look at the table, maybe worry a little bit.

"So of course a game in hand is only good if you win it. You need to win that one to put those points on the board.

"But with a difficult start against Palace and Tottenham, of course I think it made it harder mentally for the players maybe to look at the table because even if you don't look at the table people keep talking at you, keep talking away about your positioning."

United not only head to Burnley sitting pretty in the standings but boasting an enviable number of options. Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof could be available after injury, while Edinson Cavani returns from a three-match ban.

"All of them trained today," Solskjaer said of Pogba, Shaw, Lindelof and Bailly. "Paul and Eric just didn't do all of it, but Luke and Victor did all of it.

"I've got a decent amount of players to pick from so let's see how Paul and Eric are tomorrow.

Eric Bailly was taken off after receiving a blow to the head towards the end of the first half against Watford in the FA Cup on Saturday
Eric Bailly was taken off after receiving a blow to the head towards the end of the first half against Watford in the FA Cup on Saturday (Martin Rickett/PA)

"Edinson has trained well when he's been banned. He's had a couple of days off, of course, as well – you can't train too much.

"But he's ready to go, he gives us a different option. He's a different type of striker or forward than Mason (Greenwood), Anthony (Martial) and Marcus (Rashford), so I'm glad to have him back. That's why we brought him in.

"He's contributed really well so far and I'm sure he'll be really important for us now until the end of the season. We feel the season starts tomorrow night."

United will also be juggling Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League exertions over the coming months but Solskjaer is not expecting any more new faces, having wrapped up a deal for Atalanta teenager Amad Diallo.

"I think that the signings we made in the summer strengthened the squad really well," the Norwegian said. "Good signings, good characters, good players.

"January's always difficult but if something comes up that you think about in the long term, it's a long-term target anyway, that's another scenario.

"But not many teams would like to lose their players in January, so unlikely something will happen on the in side.

"There might be two or three going out because they deserve to play more football for their own good and their own career."

ID:430120:cQx

Click here for more stories about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Burnley manager Sean Dyche pictured on January 9, 2021
Read Next:
Sean Dyche hopes self-isolating players can return for Man United game
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester UnitedMan Utd18114334241037
2Manchester CityMan City17105227131435
3Leicester CityLeicester18112533211235
4Liverpool1897237211634
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs1896333171633
6Everton1710252821732
7Chelsea1885533211229
8Southampton188552621529
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham188552521429
10Aston Villa1582529161326
11Arsenal187382019124
12Leeds UnitedLeeds187293034-423
13Crystal Palace196582231-923
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves196492129-822
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle175481827-919
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton193882229-717
17Burnley17449922-1316
18Fulham172691425-1112
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom1825111441-2711
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1912161032-225

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!