The Red Devils have four games in the next 11 days as they aim to move on to the FA Cup final and ensure Champions League football
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes that Manchester United have had an unfair match schedule in the past two weeks of the Premier League and will have to play their cards well while chasing a spot in the Champions League.
United are missing three games from the current campaign and one FA Cup semifinal in the next 11 games and while Chelsea have four days to prepare for Sunday’s Wembley clash, United have only two while playing at Crystal Palace in Selhurst Park on Thursday evening. and Solskjaer is not happy.
“It is obvious that they will have 48 hours of rest and recovery more than we do. It’s not fair, “said Solskjaer.” We talked about proper programming in this reboot and obviously it’s not. But I have to think about Thursday, winning that, focusing on that and then picking up the pieces after that. “
Despite the hectic schedule, which sees United also play twice next week, Solskjaer is confident with his team’s fitness levels as they seek a final push in the top four in their last three league games.
“The next two weeks are going to be hectic, but then we are in shape again, very fit – our guys have not felt that fit for years, I’m sure,” explained Solskjaer.
“It was a great success towards the end of last season that we felt that our team was not fit enough, there were some injuries, this season we didn’t have this kind of problem.
“It won’t be a problem and a concern for us, but 24 hours, 48 hours is a big difference right now [of the season] so there haven’t been four aces delivered, to put it that way, in the past two weeks. But we will have to wear a poker face and play the cards well. “
After exiting the bench against Tottenham in the first game since the restart, Paul Pogba has started every Premier League game ever since and has looked a bit out of rhythm in the draw against Southampton at Old Trafford. But if the Frenchman wasn’t selected for the Palazzo clash, it won’t be because he was dropped.
“I talked to Paul more or less every day. He knows he wouldn’t be dropped. When Paul plays like this, he is not dropped by any team in the world – France or Man United – but has been out for a long, long time, “explained Solskjaer.
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“Before the game there was a question mark [against Southampton]. But he felt ready for this, which was fantastic, so now let’s see how he is today or even tomorrow morning. It has been fantastic since the restart and has brought a lot to the team. “
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