'The tree is growing': Solskjaer calls for patience at Man United

Manchester United manr Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged club’s leership to “look at bigger picture” and avoid being too reactionary following two disappointing losses that have placed him under renewed scrutiny.

Solskjaer and United’s players are under mounting criticism in wake of losing to Istanbul Basaksehir 2-1 in Champions League on Wednesday, when incidents of shambolic defending were described by Solskjaer as “unforgivable.”

Before that, United lost to Arsenal 1-0 at Old Trafford to slump to 15th in English Premier League. team is without a win in its first four home games in top-flight for first time since 1972.

Solskjaer ackwledged he was “under pressure” heing into a league match at Everton on Saturday but said he maintains a good relationship with club’s leership — U.S.-based Glazer family — and is still planning for long term.

“We planted a seed and tree is growing,” Solskjaer said. “Some clubs just rip up that tree and see if it is still growing, see if it is still getting water underneath.

“For me, I have h backing all way, since I’ve come in, on bigger picture, and club needs to look at bigger picture. We can’t go reacting to one or two results, we have to look furr back at direction we’re going.”

Inconsistency is crippling United this season, with latest defeats coming soon after team beat Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig — two of last season’s Champions League semifinalists — 2-1 and 5-0, respectively, in of a week.

“I don’t look at one or two results and fall like a house of cards,” Solskjaer said.

“re’s been too much me of, say, t scoring against Arsenal and Chelsea because re’s been more or less thing in those two games. It’s t too long ago we were best thing since sliced bre when you beat Leipzig and PSG, so re’s ups and downs in football and that’s just way it has to be.”

Goodison Park was scene of what Solskjaer described as his lowest point as United manr — a 4-0 loss in league in April last year. A 2-0 loss at Everton in 2014 also proved to be David Moyes’ last match in charge of United after less than a year in charge.

“You have to be mentally strong,” Solskjaer said ahe of United’s latest trip to Goodison, which comes before a two-week break for international matches. “Of course re’s demands on a Man United player and a coach and a manr. re’s also an expectation because we are at best and biggest club in world.

“You don’t expect to have anything but criticism n, it’s just how you deal with that, how you deal with that setback. From what I’ve seen from boys, y’ve been very focused since we’ve come back, rey to give a response.”

Im credits: AP