Solskjaer: United can learn from semi-final defeats

Manchester United boss Ole Solskjaer is eyeing a long run in the Europa League and says the club can learn from last season’s disappointments.

Manchester United want to improve on their achievements from last season, says Solskjaer.

The Red Devils moved into the Europa League round of 16 after edging Real Sociedad by a 4-0 aggregate.

Last season, Solskjaer saw his United side lose three semi-finals, including one to City in the league, one to Chelsea in the FA Cup and another to Sevilla in the Europa League.

This season, United have already lost another semi-final, losing to their Manchester rivals in the Carabao Cup last month.

Solskjaer has now declared his side’s ambitions to do better and advance further than they have done in recent competitions.

“We are a group that’s very tied together, you have to be at the moment because there’s not a lot else you’re doing and that’s the interaction you have with people. You come in and you work every day.” he said as per the club’s website.

“We want to go further and we failed, not failed, you’ve failed in three semi-finals, you want to do better and improve and the culture is really improving.”

🔊 Sound on to hear the thoughts of the boss on tonight's progression in the #UEL

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— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 25, 2021

“Of course at the moment it’s a little bit different because the coaches are away, but we’ve got some fantastic experience, some good coaches with us. It’s exciting, it’s a group of players that will only improve because we’re still a young team.”

United face a tricky run of fixtures over the coming weeks and Solskjaer says the results could play a big part in how their season turns out.

“Now until the international break we’ve got seven or eight games and of course you have Chelsea, you have Leicester, you have City, massive games… West Ham too.” he added.

“There are important games in the league, you’ve got Palace away, then who knows who we’ll draw. So there’s three or four weeks now until the international break that are going to be massive for us. We’re in a good place, confidence is good, hopefully we get a few players back in and Dan tonight wasn’t hopefully too bad.”