THE season has been tough enough for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Plotting a way to his first silverware as Manchester United boss and splitting the top two of Manchester City and Liverpool from the last two seasons in the League.
Now he finds himself acting in an unwanted role as peacemaker between club and supporters as they prepare to let 10,000 fans back into Old Trafford for the last home game of the season against Fulham.
Solskjaer says his players have been suffering due to fans protests.
Thousands laid siege to Old Trafford and the team hotel forcing their game with Liverpool to be postponed.
There were more protests against the club’s owners the Glazers before the game against Leicester last week too.
And Solskjaer said: “I think the mood in any club and the relationship between the team and the fans is vital to what happens on the pitch.”
Solskjaer believes the protests and subsequent fixture pile up was the reason for them losing their last two games at home to Leicester and Liverpool.
He said: “I just didn’t want to use it as an excuse because we lost two games but surely it’s a reason behind the performances.”
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Now he is crossing his fingers that the return of fans will see everyone united behind his team.
Solskjaer said: “We’ve been waiting for a long long time to welcome the fans back and of course the last couple of home games, especially the Liverpool ones with the protests.
“It’s never nice to see a club that is not united, fans with the team so we’re hoping that Tuesday is going to be a positive day that we move together, that we play a good game of football.
“That’s my job to prepare the team to play well and that they enjoy the day because that’s important that we get back and enjoy being together.”
It will be the first time the Red Devils have played in front of fans at Old Trafford since March of last year when they beat Manchester City 2-0.
There was a tremendous atmosphere on that occasion but if their return is marred by protests inside the ground Solskjaer fears it will only have a negative effect on the team.
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He said: “Of course you hope that the game against Fulham will not be marred by any violence or over the top things.
“I know our fans, I know the Manchester United fans, they’re the best fans I’ve had and I’ve got such a great relationship with them and they know how to support the team so I don’t expect any of the fans coming here making any trouble
“The players are all human beings, we’re all human beings, and we will react to getting our supporters back in a positive way.
“They have always been giving us extra energy and hopefully the players will give the fans a reason to cheer and that’s what we have to focus on. It’s a big game for us in that respect.
“The last time we had fans in against Man City, it was a great game, it was the best atmosphere I’ve ever felt at Old Trafford in a league game and the next time we can welcome the fans back in we need to make sure it’s a positive one.”
United were left having to play three games in five days due to the postponement of the Liverpool game something which Solskjaer says was unfair on the players.
He said: “Physically it’s impossible to turn up and play at the intensity and the level that’s required because of the amount of games.
“Then you look at the preparation in between, you haven’t had the recovery or the same routine as you normally do, we haven’t done the tactical prep in the same way.
“I’m not saying it didn’t affect them but I was impressed with how professional they were and how they went about it.
“There was none of them that complained and that’s one of the big things for me, we never complain we just look at what we can do and how could we maximise the situation.
“We tried to do that but we couldn’t get the results but the players have been good as gold.
“They’ve had a couple of days off and they’re refreshed and ready and now we prepare as normal for these last two games.”
The last two league defeats have left the club’s bid to finish runners-up in jeopardy as they lead third-placed Leicester by four points with six still available from the final two games.
But Solskjaer is hopeful that his team will be back to their old selves after a fraught period.
He said: “The last week has been draining. The season has been long enough so I gave them two days off, Friday and Saturday, and they’ve been bright and bubbly, really sharp and looking forward to the end of the season and playing in front of our fans again.
“It’s a completely different matter and the fans coming in will give the game an extra lift and give the players an extra lift and of course we’re very focused on securing second place.”
Former boss Jose Mourinho was derided for claiming his second place finish with United in the 2017-18 season was one of his greatest achievements.
While Solskjaer will not list it as an ‘achievement’ he believes it will be proof that the team is going in the right direction.
He said: “The competition now is a lot harder than when I was a player. Three, four maybe five teams that can challenge for the top two positions.
“For the last few years they have been taken by the same two teams and for us to go into them and divide them it’s good, it’s a good performance but we can’t say it’s an achievement, it’s not an achievement.
“We’ve taken steps as a team we’re not where we want to be, we know we have some deficiencies as a group there’s parts of the game that we need to improve on but I’ve felt we’ve made strides in most places and I’ve been very pleased with the players and I’ve got to say I’ve been impressed by them but we want to take the next step as well.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
