Solskjaer responds to 'really inconsistent' Man United claims

Manchester United are a long way off this season amid a run of mixed results, but Solskjaer shrugged off claims they lacked consistency.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has dismissed claims Manchester United are struggling for consistency by pointing out ‘you need to be looking at 10, 20, 30, 40 [games]’ to judge a team in that aspect.

It’s been an underwhelming start for the Red Devils so far. A 3-1 home defeat to PSG in the Champions League midweek has left their last-16 hopes under threat. Things in the Premier League have fared possibly worse as the club sit ninth in the standings after nine fixtures.

But while the PSG setback was a tremendous blow, United can still make it four wins in a row in the Premier League on Saturday by beating West Ham.

“I know the narrative is that we’re really inconsistent and I’m not one to argue too much,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports.

“But if you look back from when the lockdown started, or even from the end of the January transfer window, I think we’re one of the most consistent teams in the country.

“Of course, the Tottenham defeat was made into a big thing, but we were 10 men, having had no pre-season.”

To be fair, Solskjaer has a point on United being one of the league’s most consistent performers since the end of the January transfer window.

The 20-time English champions have collected 48 points from 23 games (W14 D6 L3), which only Liverpool have bettered (W15 D5 L4) – albeit having played one more fixture at 24.

“For consistency, you need to look at more than just two or three games,” added Solskjaer. “You need to be looking at 10, 20, 30, 40.

“Liverpool and Manchester City have been exceptional over the last two years, but they are still two sides too many ahead of us, in my head anyway, because I want us to be the best.

“Saying that, we have made real strides. The lows are not so low anymore, but the highs can be really high. It shows we are on the right track.”

Despite a mixed start to this season, United are still only five points behind Premier League leaders Tottenham and Liverpool. If they win their game in hand, including the West Ham one on Saturday, they can close to as little as two points.