Solskjaer Admits United Have No Confidence After Shock Newcastle Defeat
7th October 2019
While it is surely too soon for Solskjaer to face the sack, the beleaguered United manager goes into the international break knowing results must improve quickly
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Manchester United are suffering a confidence crisis after Matty Longstaff marked his Premier League debut with the superb strike that gave Newcastle a shock 1-0 win
Solskjaer's side paid the price for their latest lethargic display as Longstaff bagged his first goal for Newcastle in the second half at St James' Park
This was a wretched display from United, especially given the paucity of the opposition provided by a Newcastle team who had fared even worse in the opening weeks of the season
MANCHESTER, United
Kingdom- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Manchester United are suffering a
confidence crisis after Matty Longstaff marked his Premier League debut with
the superb strike that gave Newcastle a shock 1-0 win on Sunday.
Solskjaer's side paid the price for their latest lethargic
display as Longstaff bagged his first goal for Newcastle in the second half at
St James' Park.
United are languishing just two points above the relegation
zone in 12th place after their third successive league game without a win.
This was a wretched display from United, especially given
the paucity of the opposition provided by a Newcastle team who had fared even
worse in the opening weeks of the season.
"We're disappointed. We did lack quite a few key
players but that's no excuse," Solskjaer said.
"Some of the boys lack a little bit of composure and we
don't create enough chances to win a game of football.
"The first half was the sloppiest we've been. In the
second half we dominated but we didn't create."
Alarmingly, United's only victory in their last five matches
in all competitions came on penalties against minnows Rochdale in the League
Cup.
While it is surely too soon for Solskjaer to face the sack,
the beleaguered United manager goes into the international break knowing
results must improve quickly.
"It's my responsibility. I need to sort their heads
out. Young boys lacking confidence, they need some help from experienced
players and staff," Solskjaer said.
"They're human and they want to do well. They need to
see the results of their hard work and we're not getting those results so
that's going to affect them."
United haven't won away from Old Trafford since beating
Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in March.
They are winless in eight consecutive top-flight away
fixtures for the first time since a run of 11 from February to September 1989.
Their haul of nine points after eight games is their worst
tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign since the dark days of 1989.
Asked if United's rebuild was in danger of imploding,
Solskjaer said: "It will take however long it will have to take. It's a
journey we've started on and the culture is getting there.
"We've given ourselves a big uphill challenge to get
among the top four. If you only work on sunny days you'll never get
to your destination."
Newcastle are only one point behind United after their
second win in nine matches in all competitions this season.