- Title: United face uphill task to finish in top six, admits Solskjaer
- Date: 7th October 2019
- Summary: NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND, UK (OCTOBER 6, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER SAYING: "Confidence is a big thing in players, it's only performances and results that will give you confidence, because at the moment when there's a decision to be made they don't do it instinctively. So what we've been working on we're a bit split second after so that effects everyone, and it's affected us and perfect timing for an international break."
- Embargoed: 21st October 2019 08:53
- Keywords: Manchester United Premier League Newcastle Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
- Location: NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND, UK
- City: NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA006B03LKXR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Manchester United face a "big, big uphill task" to finish in the Premier League's top six, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Sunday (October 6) lacklustre side lost 1-0 at Newcastle United.
Matthew Longstaff's second-half winner increased the gloom for United who will enter the international break languishing in 12th place -- 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Solskjaer's side had plenty of possession on Tyneside on Sunday, they were toothless with England striker Marcus Rashford barely having a sight of goal all afternoon.
A United line-up missing the likes of Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard looked powder-puff against a defence that leaked five goals last week against Leicester City.
While Solskjaer rightly pointed to the absentees, he said there was no quick fix for United's current malaise which stretches back to the latter stages of last season.
Solskjaer said he would try and "evaluate" the opening eight Premier League games, from which United have only nine points in their worst start to a league campaign since 1989-90, during the international break.
United's next game is at home against Liverpool who have a 100% record after eight games and lead the table by eight points. "That's a perfect game for us," Solskjaer said. "The international break is also at the perfect time because their heads need a bit of airing."
(Production: Andy Ragg) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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