Ole Gunnar Solskjaer loves goals.
During his playing career, the Norwegian’s name became synonymous with goalscoring. He registered 126 strikes during his time on the field for Manchester United, despite not being the most technically gifted figure in the squad, during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
This is not a dig on the Norwegian by any means, who has actually referenced this point in the past, but a statement that simply highlights his aggressive, winning mentality. Such an ethos has been implanted on United’s current side, with the manager paying a heavy emphasis to the work taking place inside the final third.
“We attack quickly when you can. Get the ball up in their half as soon as you can, as quickly as you can.” These words are referenced by United’s official site in being a ‘Key Ole Gunnar Solskjaer quote’ and they represent his team’s mindset.
Since the restart of the Premier League, United have registered fourteen goals in five games – the third most in the division, behind only Chelsea and Manchester City, who have played a game more.
Embed from Getty ImagesFinding the back of the net has not been an issue for the Red Devils in 2020, with the attacking trio of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood all combining to create one of the most dangerous frontlines in the country itself. With Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba pulling the strings in-behind, the case can be made that Solskjaer’s side is currently one of the best in Europe.
Inevitably, Solskjaer has been pleased by the goals being produced. Speaking on his team’s recent 5-2 win over Bournemouth, the manager stated: “Thankfully we had some lads with some fantastic finishes. Anthony’s goal was top class, Mason’s two were very, very good goals, Bruno’s free-kick was great and then Marcus got one with the penalty.”
The clinical nature showcased by his players represent a mindset that Solskjaer has been trying to integrate, ever since taking charge. “To score goals, you need top strikers. We’ve got top ones. It’s about confidence as well” were his words in December, during a time where United needed a kickstart in their stagnating form.
United have since turned a corner in 2020, with their attacking frontmen not only playing a key role in delivering recent results, but also helping formulate an offensive system, that will serve as a long-term plan for Solskjaer’s future team selections.
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