OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER rued the gulf in class between his Manchester United and Manchester City after their title-chasing rivals closed out a 2-0 win at Old Trafford.
United were abject in a 4-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday and Solskjaer rung the changes for Wednesday’s derby showdown.
Five alterations to the starting line-up prompted an enterprising performance during a goalless first half but City hit the front through Bernardo Silva’s 54th-minute strike and they comfortably played out victory after substitute Leroy Sane blasted past an errant David de Gea.
“We got a reaction and in the end we were beaten by a better team,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports.
But we got a reaction from fans and players and had a go, had efforts – didn’t hit the target too many times but you can see the work rate was there. It wasn’t good enough.
“There is a difference in quality. That is why they are top and we are where we are. They have set the standard. Living in Manchester we cannot be happy with that. It is up to us to close that gap and overtake them.
“Today you can’t say that any of them didn’t run. You could see clearly an intent and focus. We just need to keep working on it.”
Visiting captain Vincent Kompany and Oleksandr Zinchenko were booked for first-half fouls that halted United attacks, but Solskjaer sought to row back on pre-match comments over City’s style out of possession that irked Pep Guardiola.
“I was making a compliment. City want to win it back and by their aggression to win it back there will be fouls,” he said.
You want a team like this. They keep the ball high and are hungry to win it back. They stopped us very well.”
De Gea’s part in both City goals — Silva also beat the Spain international at his near post – continued a dismal run for a player usually considered one of United’s most consistent performers.
Ahead of a pivotal clash against Chelsea this weekend, with Arsenal’s loss at Wolves having kept the top-four race wide open, Solskjaer had a message of support for his goalkeeper.
“David made some terrific saves as well. He has high standards,” he added.
“When we are having a time like this we’ve just got to stick together, batten the hatches down, don’t do anything rash and keep working.
“We have to come back fighting on Sunday.”
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Roy always says it as he sees it- no filter but unadulterated Truth.
Gotta love it
Rashford: bare minimum to work hard. How about scoring a goal? 8 hours and 47 mins without a goal from open play and yet this guy keeps starting!!! So so overrated
@Adrian Newman: and who do you suggest starts ahead of him? Sanchez, Lukaku? At the moment he’s by far the first name on the team sheet.
@Adrian Newman: I enjoyed watching UTD’s resurgence under ole these past few months, a bit like I did the tiger comeback, and as a gooner and someone who thinks Tiger is a proper toerag this just means that I enjoy seeing sport played with the right amount of passion/skill ratio..
But let’s remember, money divides people from their moral standings, their senses and their motives.. players have too much power now with the agent era, Ferguson saw the writing on the wall and so the story went… I’d love to see the Pogba’s and the Sanchez’s of football get sacked for not performing to the standards they’ve sold themselves at..
If rashford was able to take half the clear goal scoring opportunities he had this season united would be in a much stronger position regarding champions league next season….. His composure is poor at best
Rashford wants to sign a new contract for €200,000 per week. A joke.
Wouldn’t you love to have Roy involved in the United set that would be one way to clear out some of the players
@james mccarthy:
Director of football. He’d be the right man for the shake up. Fred wouldn’t have lasted candlelight. He’s spot on in what he said too. I’ll be the first lad to admit that I’m one of United’s biggest critics on here, regardless of being a United supporter. Last night was by a country mile, the worst performance I’ve seen from them in as long as I can remember. Completely gutless. De Gea has to go in the summer too. I wouldn’t begrudge him it either, he’d have 4 CL medals now if he got his move to Madrid the last time.
SLIPPY G