[ad_1]
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged his Manchester United stars to grab a “fantastic opportunity” to qualify for the Champions League after Mason Greenwood rescued a 1-1 draw towards West Ham on Wednesday. Solskjaer’s facet fell behind to Michail Antonio’s penalty within the first half at Old Trafford. But teenage ahead Greenwood struck after the interval to carry United into third place within the Premier League. They are forward of fourth positioned Chelsea on purpose distinction after the Blues misplaced 5-Three at champions Liverpool. United will end within the high 4 in the event that they draw or win of their decisive showdown with fifth positioned Leicester on Sunday.
United are one level forward of Leicester going into their final recreation of the season on the King Power Stadium.
“When we started after the lockdown, we had to go for it. We had to go for goal difference, we had to go for points,” Solskjaer mentioned.
“The effort has been fantastic and the results have been fantastic.
“Going into half-time we knew that wasn’t the outcome we wished. But you may’t anticipate to show groups over like we would have liked to have a unique situation for Sunday.
“We’ve given ourselves a fantastic opportunity and a great starting point for Sunday.”
Solskjaer’s crew had been effectively under their greatest towards West Ham, however they’re now unbeaten in 13 league matches and can full a powerful surge into the Champions League in the event that they emerge unscathed at Leicester.
They also can qualify for Europe’s elite membership competitors in the event that they win the Europa League in August.
Solskjaer can have been relieved there have been no expensive errors from David De Gea after the United keeper retained his place.
The Spaniard made two embarrassing errors that led to objectives in United’s 3-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat towards Chelsea on Sunday.
West Ham’s level ensured they’re mathematically sure to keep away from relegation.
After their sluggish loss at Wembley ended a 19-match unbeaten run in all competitions, Solskjaer’s males made a extra enterprising begin this time and West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski was examined twice inside the primary 4 minutes.
– Mature Greenwood –
Anthony Martial’s stinging strike from simply contained in the penalty space compelled a wonderful save from Fabianski, who then plunged to his proper to maintain out Greenwood’s effort.
Rashford tried his luck from 30 yards, however the ahead’s highly effective drive was too near Fabianski, whereas Greenwood’s close-range shot was blocked by Ogbonna.
De Gea had been a spectator for the primary 40 minutes and when he was lastly known as into motion, Antonio’s header lacked the ability to bother him.
But De Gea nonetheless needed to decide the ball out of the web moments earlier than half-time after Paul Pogba handed West Ham a penalty.
Declan Rice’s free-kick was smashed straight at Pogba, who instinctively caught up his arms to guard his face.
Despite Pogba dropping to the turf as if he had been hit within the head, VAR confirmed the France midfielder’s handball.
Antonio took the spot-kick, sending De Gea the unsuitable approach for his sixth purpose in his final three video games.
United had let the primary half drift out of their management, however Greenwood dragged them degree with one other demonstration of his outstanding maturity within the 51st minute.
Dropping deep to change passes with Martial, the 18-year-old saved his composure to drill a medical end previous Fabianski from 12 yards.
No teenager has ever scored extra objectives in a single season in all competitions for United than Greenwood, whose 17th of the season moved him degree with George Best, Brian Kidd and Wayne Rooney.
“He’s bailed us out a few times and he’s done it again,” Solskjaer mentioned.
Promoted
“He’s been absolutely top class ever since we gave him an opportunity.
“He trusts himself that his expertise, his qualities, attributes, they really work on the highest degree.”
Topics talked about on this article
[ad_2]
Source link