Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged his Manchester United stars to grab a “incredible alternative” to qualify for the Champions League after Mason Greenwood rescued a 1-1 draw in opposition to West Ham on Wednesday. Solskjaer’s facet fell behind to Michail Antonio’s penalty within the first half at Outdated Trafford. However teenage ahead Greenwood struck after the interval to elevate United into third place within the Premier League. They’re forward of fourth positioned Chelsea on aim distinction after the Blues misplaced 5-Three at champions Liverpool. United will end within the high 4 in the event that they draw or win of their decisive showdown with fifth positioned Leicester on Sunday.
United are one level forward of Leicester going into their final sport of the season on the King Energy Stadium.
“Once we began after the lockdown, we needed to go for it. We needed to go for aim distinction, we needed to go for factors,” Solskjaer mentioned.
“The hassle has been incredible and the outcomes have been incredible.
“Going into half-time we knew that wasn’t the outcome we needed. However you’ll be able to’t anticipate to show groups over like we would have liked to have a unique situation for Sunday.
“We have given ourselves a incredible alternative and an awesome place to begin for Sunday.”
Solskjaer’s crew have been nicely under their finest in opposition to West Ham, however they’re now unbeaten in 13 league matches and can full a formidable surge into the Champions League in the event that they emerge unscathed at Leicester.
They’ll additionally qualify for Europe’s elite membership competitors in the event that they win the Europa League in August.
Solskjaer could have been relieved there have been no pricey errors from David De Gea after the United keeper retained his place.
The Spaniard made two embarrassing errors that led to targets in United’s Three-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat in opposition to Chelsea on Sunday.
West Ham’s level ensured they’re mathematically sure to keep away from relegation.
After their sluggish loss at Wembley ended a 19-match unbeaten run in all competitions, Solskjaer’s males made a extra enterprising begin this time and West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski was examined twice inside the primary 4 minutes.
– Mature Greenwood –
Anthony Martial’s stinging strike from simply contained in the penalty space pressured a superb save from Fabianski, who then plunged to his proper to maintain out Greenwood’s effort.
Rashford tried his luck from 30 yards, however the ahead’s highly effective drive was too near Fabianski, whereas Greenwood’s close-range shot was blocked by Ogbonna.
De Gea had been a spectator for the primary 40 minutes and when he was lastly referred to as into motion, Antonio’s header lacked the ability to bother him.
However De Gea nonetheless needed to choose the ball out of the web moments earlier than half-time after Paul Pogba handed West Ham a penalty.
Declan Rice’s free-kick was smashed straight at Pogba, who instinctively caught up his arms to guard his face.
Regardless of Pogba dropping to the turf as if he had been hit within the head, VAR confirmed the France midfielder’s handball.
Antonio took the spot-kick, sending De Gea the unsuitable means for his sixth aim in his final three video games.
United had let the primary half drift out of their management, however Greenwood dragged them degree with one other demonstration of his exceptional maturity within the 51st minute.
Dropping deep to trade passes with Martial, the 18-year-old saved his composure to drill a scientific end previous Fabianski from 12 yards.
No teenager has ever scored extra targets in a single season in all competitions for United than Greenwood, whose 17th of the season moved him degree with George Finest, Brian Kidd and Wayne Rooney.
“He is bailed us out just a few instances and he is finished it once more,” Solskjaer mentioned.
Promoted
“He is been completely high class ever since we gave him a possibility.
“He trusts himself that his expertise, his qualities, attributes, they really work on the highest degree.”
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