MANCHESTER (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he has been assured by star midfielder Paul Pogba that the Frenchman does not want to leave Manchester United despite mounting speculation over a switch to Real Madrid.
United midfielder Pogba last week described Madrid, managed by France great Zinedine Zidane, as a "dream club for every player" while on international duty.
Fuel was then poured on the fire ahead of Madrid's game at the weekend when the Real boss admitted that Pogba would be welcome at the Bernabeu if and when he decides to call time on his United career.
Zidane is expected to have a big transfer budget this summer to shake things up. Real crashed out of the Champions League to Ajax at the last-16 stage and trail Barcelona by 12 points in LaLiga.
Solskjaer was appointed permanent manager at Old Trafford only last week but the future of United's most high-profile player is once again in the spotlight.
Madrid have a track record of taking some of United's star names, with both David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo swapping Old Trafford for the Bernabeu, but Solskjaer said he is not worried by the Pogba situation.
"It doesn't really concern me because my thought of action was to sit down and speak to Paul," he said on Monday (April 1).
"I have had my chat with Paul and we're fine. He is going to do his utmost here because he knows I am very fond of him as a player and as a person. He is important for us here, so there are no issues. He is happy here."
Solskjaer's immediate priority is United's trip to Wolves on Tuesday for their rearranged Premier League game.
They have a big chance to put pressure on their rivals for a top-four spot by picking up a win at Molineux but know it will not be easy after Wolves knocked them out of the FA Cup last month.
Saturday's 2-1 win at home to Watford moved United level on points with Tottenham and they would go third, at least temporarily, with another victory.
United languished 11 points off the top-four spots when Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho in December and the Norwegian is delighted that his team are now in control of their own destiny.
He has set a target of five wins from their remaining seven games and does not feel his players are going to ease up, despite a sub-par performance against Watford.
"I don't think I need to remind the players about their standards dropping," he said. "They know themselves. They want to be in the Champions League and they want to perform as well as they possibly can.
"Maybe they didn't believe in it themselves in November or December but we are in with a chance.
"Everyone knows that if we do our jobs and get 15 points over the last seven games, we will be in the Champions League next year.
"It's the final stretch, so it's not a time to change. We need the same mindset as we have had. It's a question of going into games thinking that we are going to win.
"Against Watford we did not get going until 15 or 20 minutes into the match but I am not worried because we have so many nice games to look forward to between now and the end of the season."
Manchester City were shocked 3-2 by Crystal Palace at home on Saturday, suffering their second defeat in three Premier League matches to lose ground on Liverpool in the title race.
Manchester City suffer shock 3-2 Premier League defeat by
Portland blaze Denver to make bow in series DENVER • Portland coach Terry Stotts paid tribute to the team's video coordinator, Jonathan Yim, who was seriously injured in a car crash with his family last week, after the Trail Blazers beat the Denver Nuggets 97-90 to tie their Western Conference semi-finals at one game apiece.
Portland blaze Denver to make bow in series - stillmannews.com
stillmannews.com/2019/05/04/portland-blaze-denver-to-make-bow-in-series/
DENVER-After giving up 39 points to Damian Lillard in the opener, the Denver Nuggets were determined to make sure Portland's role players would have to bear the burden of evening up the series. Ruby Walsh on quitting: "I didn't want the long farewell" Walsh burst on to the scene when winning the 2000 Grand National on Papillon, trained by his
NBA Playoffs 2019: Portland Trail Blazers hold off Denver
PARIS (Reuters) - Thieves broke in and stole luxury watches from the home of Paris St Germain's Dani Alves while the Brazilian defender was playing a match earlier this week, French sports newspaper L'Equipe reported on Saturday. Alves is the third PSG player to be targeted by thieves in recent months.
PSG's Dani Alves house burgled during match - L'Equipe
Sarri: Chelsea cannot lose to United. but we need not to lose. It's a very difficult match for both I think." However, Chelsea are yet to win a single point away at a 'top six' club this season.
Top four chasing Chelsea cannot afford to lose at Man United
Willian gem sinks Newcastle as Chelsea cement fourth place Chelsea have won five of their last seven league matches and sit six points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal Jun 07, 2019
English Premier League: Willian gem sinks Newcastle as
Champions League: Lionel Messi torments Liverpool with 600th Barca goal in 3-0 win The Argentine's milestone goal was a moment of brilliance as he curled a dazzling free kick into the top corner from distance to add gloss to a scoreline that did not reflect the balance of play.
Messi torments Liverpool with 600th Barca goal in 3-0 win
Football: Qatar players cleared in eligibility row just
Lesson 2: When God Brings Revival (Luke 1:5-17) Thus God sovereignly takes the initiative in sending revival and often waits until things are hopeless so that no
If You Only Own One Kitchen Thing It Should Be This - BuzzFeed
Villans ascend into EPL heaven. Sports World. Next 48 Hours. Nadal upbeat, Wozniacki bitter. premium. On a crowded path, we should all watch our step. Resilient Farrer Park fight back to retain
Azure Lion Demon | Villains Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia
Apr 29, 2019 · Barcelona take on Liverpool at the Nou Camp in the Champions League semifinal first leg. Here are five things you need to know about the match.
3 things to know after Liverpool's incredible Champions
Manchester United will be aiming to move into the Premier League's top four when they travel to Fulham, live on Sky Sports from 11.30am on Saturday. United were 11 points off the Champions League
Fulham v Manchester United live in the Premier League - Live
Soccer-Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop. 2 Min Read * Newcastle won a third straight home match against Huddersfield NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0 .
UPDATE 1-Soccer-Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer
Football: Female staff member of Hougang United charged with CBT over $278,000 clubhouse funds. Hougang United said the police report was made on the day of the incident in December 2018 and the
S$278,200 missing from Hougang United Football Club; employee
Feb 12, 2019 · Gordon Banks: England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper dies aged 81 Banks was a hugely loved and respected figure within the world of football. Tributes to Banks poured in from the world of
Gordon Banks, England's 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper
Reds the hungrier side, says Van Dijk LONDON • Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool will want victory more than Everton in the Merseyside derby today owing to the ramifications in the pursuit of the Premier League title.
Reds the hungrier facet, says Van Dijk - Latest News
0 comments:
Post a Comment