I Made It Hard For The Players Vs Reading – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took responsibility for Manchester United’s lacklustre display against Reading after admitting his team selection had made the task more difficult.

United won for the fifth game in a row under the Norwegian but United were not at their best during the 2-0 victory and Reading, second from bottom of the Championship, ended the game having had more possession and more shots.
“It was always going be difficult with my team selection,” Solskjaer said, after making nine changes to his team.

“I made it hard for the players to be fair on them because it’s a team that’s never played together.

“Reading made it really difficult for us. We never had a kick the first five minutes, they just kept possession and we weren’t cohesive enough in the pressing. That happens when you don’t have a team that doesn’t plays together as much.

“We didn’t have too much time to work. The pleasing thing is we’re through and it’s another clean sheet. Two-nil flatters us because I think they played some great stuff.”

Solskjaer handed starts to Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez while 19-year-old Dutchman Tahith Chong came on for the final 30 minutes to make his senior debut.

Lukaku scored for the third game in a row but Sanchez, starting a game for the first time since Nov.7, was forced off with a hamstring injury.

“I think maybe he’s happy that he got through 60 minutes,” Solskjaer said. “Hopefully he won’t be too bad. He’s been out a month now, he’s had 20 minutes against Newcastle, half an hour maybe.

“Now he’s had 60 minutes, so it’s about building up again. You know the quality he has.

“I think maybe when he gets another few games under his belt, he would have finished a little bit earlier on in the first half. He had one touch too many, could have finished when he was driving through the box, so he’ll be fine.”