Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said his players need to react positively to the setback of conceding a late equalizer to draw with Southampton at the Old Trafford.
Michael Obafemi’s 96th-minute strike put an end to Man United’s recent winning run. The draw leaves the Reds fifth in the Premier League table, level on points with Leicester City, with three games to play.
United will travel to London to face Crystal Palace on Thursday with the aim of entering the Champions League playoff spot.
In his post-match interviews with MUTV and Sky Sports, Ole, who pointed that it was frustrating not to win the game said draws are part of the games as well.
“We’ve had so many times where we’ve won the game in the last minute, and it’s another test for the boys, another test on mentality. Can we shake this off, can we be ready for Thursday, with a positive frame of mind? As you said, we’ve been on a fantastic run and you can’t sit down and feel sorry for yourself when it goes against you for a little while.”
While noting that his team probably didn’t deserve three points, the former Molde manager said Southampton are a good team and deserved to get something from the game.
“They played well. They are a physical, very, very fit side. They run and run, they chase and we never got the rhythm in our passing today especially after we got to 2-1. You can play better but we created chances and played some fantastic football at times. Anthony [Martial] has got two massive chances that he creates for himself and the two goals are very good.”
To the manger, the result would have been safe if his lads had killed off the game with at least a two-goal cushion.
“If you get a two-goal cushion, that’s a different ball-game. But we scored two fantastic goals, Anthony, I thought he was excellent today, absolutely top-class. Especially the second goal. That’s how we want to play football. Fast, quick, through the pitch and then a very good finish.”
No missed opportunity to move third – Solskjaer
Speaking further, the manager played down pundit talk about the missed opportunity of going third above Chelsea and Leicester City on the log.
“That’s football. It is key moment. There are key moments in every game of football and that was the key moment. We will take it and move onto Thursday at Selhurst Park. It’s a game to focus on. This will be in the back of our heads tonight, we’re disappointed but tomorrow it’s all heads on Crystal Palace.”
“Yeah but that’s not how the world works. It pans out how it does. We’ve been on a great run, we are level with Leicester now on points, so it’s up to us.”
Manchester United Vs. Southampton highlight
Watch the key moment of the game below.
🎥 The key moments from our #PL encounter against Southampton.#MUFC #MUNSOU pic.twitter.com/cd1Lf03T6w
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 13, 2020
