Ole Presser (Its a Northern thing)

'The club pointed out that Greenwood should have had a rest'

Here's what Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had to say when asked about teenage striker Mason Greenwood, who was handed his first senior call-up for England's Nations League game against Iceland before being sent home for breaching Covid protocols.

"Yeah, of course I've spoken to Mason," he said. "What we speak about and discuss will be between the two of us. The kid had a fantastic season, he’s just come through, I’ve worked and the club has worked and all the staff here have worked really hard to - when we gave Mason enough time on the pitch, when we gave him exposure in the media, then you come to the end of the season and we've had less than two weeks off and he's called up to the national team.

"I have to be honest enough to say I tried my best to give him a rest over the summer, at the club we asked specifically and pointed out he should have had a rest. He needs it mentally and physically after that season he had and the first thing that happens is one, he's called up and two, he’s right there in the press.

"We've done whatever we can to protect him and I will keep on helping him. I know when he comes back into the daily routine of the club and what we do to him he'll be fine."
====================

Maguire's trained well, he’s been focused - Solskjaer

Meanwhile, Manchester United's Harry Maguire was given a suspended prison sentence on the Greek island of Syros after being found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery.

The England defender maintains his innocence and has appealed against the decision, which nullifies the conviction, and boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last week confirmed that he will remain the United captain.

"The process will keep on going," he said. "Knowing Harry, he's a very strong character so hopefully he can put that apart but naturally, as a human being, it will be in the back of your mind what’s happened this summer, and apart from that you have just got to see how it develops with Harry.

"Personally, I think he will be able to focus on his football but then who am I to … you can't predict how people will react but so far he's trained well, he’s been focused, so hopefully that process will just go on and, of course, we know it’s something that will go on in the legal department over there."

=======================

Van de Beek's coming in with loads of energy - Solskjaer

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also said that new signing Donny van de Beek has "settled in really well" since arriving from Ajax.

"He's a smashing boy, great personality, coming in with loads of energy and a big smile every day," said Solskjaer. "He played well against Aston Villa [friendly last Saturday] so you're likely to see him but, of course, I'm not going to name the team here today. 'll have to do that to the boys after training."

====================

This group can go as far as they want - Solskjaer

In his first full season in charge, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer steered Manchester United to a top-three finish and hopes to build on that.

"I think we can go into the new season with confidence with the way we finished last season. That showed what we're capable of," he said.

"We developed throughout the season and need to keep on and show potential. We need more consistency but, with a year more experience, we should be getting that consistency. It's a group I don't really want to say what they cannot do. They can go as far as they want themselves."

======================

'We're looking to give the group a boot, we're working on it'

Some Manchester United fans have grown frustrated at the lack of summer signings so far.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: "Fans will always want the best possible team to watch, the best possible Man United team, and that's the passion we want and the history we have. We can look back 10 or 20 years and you look back at the great players we have and, for me, going forward, since Sir Alex [Ferguson] left we've been averaging fifth.

"Last season we got third, which was a big step forward. Everyone saw development - Bruno [Fernandes] coming in, Harry [Maguire] being captain and showing leadership skills, Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] did well. We want to take a step forward and we can go into the new season with confidence, but we're looking to give the group a boot and we're working on it."