Varun Pai
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sends a message to Manchester United fringe stars ahead of Atalanta clash
Speaking in the pre-match press conference (h/t The Sun), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained that the Manchester United fringe stars cannot sulk and must support their teammates from the bench.
The Red Devils have been through a roller-coaster of a month, but things ended well in October for them as they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-0.
However, several stars like Jesse Lingard, Eric Bailly, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Nemanja Matic were dropped for the game as they joined Donny van de Beek, who was named on the bench but not brought on for the sixth consecutive game.
Although they looked disappointed figures in the dugout, Solskjaer has now urged his fringe stars to not sulk and to support the teammates out on the pitch. The Norwegian told reporters in his pre-match press conference (h/t The Sun):
“When you’re at a place like this, we’ve got so many players and we don’t have time for anyone to sulk or not give energy to the team. If you’re not in the starting XI, you’re there to support your teammates. You come on and do your best when you come on.
“Yeah, I understand players want to play and nobody is happy when they don’t play. But the squad morale has been really good, and it has to be really good. It can’t be that we’ve done one game now, and then everyone is thinking about themselves, it’s a team before any individual.”
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The Red Devils were also knocked out of the EFL Cup in the third round this season, which could have been a competition where some of his fringe stars could have received considerable game-time.
However, United’s benchwarmers will have to fight for their place in the starting line-up as their 48-year-old gaffer looks to steady the ship at Old Trafford. Now is not the time to appease players but to field the strongest team out in order to get the results in our favour.
