Man Utd not the ‘shambles’ they were for the 4-0 loss against Everton in April, warns Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
MANCHESTER UNITED are not the “shambles” they were for the 4-0 loss they suffered against Everton in April, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned.
The catastrophic drubbing at the back-end of last season is unquestionably the low point of the Norwegian’s year-long reign at Old Trafford.
But Solskjaer has warned the Toffees not to underestimate his side, saying they are a much-different animal now.
Man Utd beat rivals City in their last league game in an impressive 2-1 win, while beating AZ Alkmaar 4-0 in the Europa League on Thursday.
Ahead of this weekend’s game – with Mason Greenwood tipped to keep his place – Solskjaer roared: “We lost quite clearly against Everton last season.
“We’ve spoken enough about what happened that day and how we looked like a team.
“It was more or less a shambles, but I’ve said too many times this year as well, we’re not that group anymore.
“This is a different group, a group that’s ready for the fight and is ready for the football.”
Solskjaer went on to say how big a role the mental side of the game plays – while adding there will be no “leeway” for disinterested stars.
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The United boss added: “Mentality sometimes is strange to explain. The mood is the camp is different, definitely.
“The group is going in the right direction now. They’ve got a chance every single day in training. There won’t be any leeway.
“You don’t play here if you don’t want to go in the same direction as the majority of the group or the whole group.
“If you’re the one or two odd men out, you’d probably know.”
In April, Everton was still under the leadership of Marco Silva, who was sacked this month and replaced by club legend Duncan Ferguson on an interim basis.
The former Toffees hardman won his first match with an impressive 3-1 win over Chelsea.
When asked what advice he’d give Ferguson, Solskjaer joked: “Play his second team against us… play his reserves!”
The United chief continued: “No, just be himself. If you try to be someone else you’re going to get found out anyway in the end.
“That’s what I’ve always tried to be, myself. I’m sure Big Dunc is the same.
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“He was 100 per cent action and passion as a player and I’m sure he’s the same as a manager.
“I know Everton, they’ve had a big upturn with Big Dunc last week. I watched the game.
“It’s a team that’s going to come here and make it hard for us, but we need to keep carrying on.