MANCHESTER UNITED need to get their hands on silverware to ease the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to Gary Neville.
United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the last four of the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United lost to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-finalsCredit: AFP
It was a familiar story for Solskjaer’s side, who agonisingly reached the semi-finals of last season’s EFL Cup, FA Cup and Europa League.
The Old Trafford giants have not won a trophy since the 2017 Europa League under Jose Mourinho’s management.
But supporters are dreaming of Premier League glory, with United sitting second in the table, level on points with Liverpool with a game in hand.
The two teams face off at Anfield later this month in what looks set to be a delicious top-of-the-table clash.
But Neville believes Solskjaer could find himself back under the cosh if his side are beaten by Jurgen Klopp’s outfit.
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Neville told Sky Sports: “I said before tonight that I felt there was more expectation on this game for me as a Man United fan than there will be a week on Sunday against Liverpool at Anfield.
“No one this season expected Man United to challenge for the league title, but I think there was a feeling: win a trophy.
“Ole, at the end of this season, will have been there two-and-a-half years, and to go two-and-a-half years without a trophy, it will start to bring a pressure, because it helps you on your way.”
“Jurgen Klopp needed a trophy and eventually got the Champions League. Pep Guardiola won the League Cup, Jose Mourinho at various clubs has won the League Cup just to get them going. He needed something and they were so close to a final with this game and in good form.
“It does pose a problem. I wouldn’t say, sat here as a Man United fan, it causes me a great problem that in any way shape or form I’m looking at the manager’s job at any point, but it will bring pressure down the line. Because if they go to Anfield and lose, people will then say ‘glass half empty’ again. It can turn like that.
“The reason Ole will not be resting on his laurels is because when you’re in a job which presents the problem he had four, five, six weeks ago when he had people questioning whether he’d make it through to the end of the season, when it gets good, like it has in the last couple of days when they’re joint top of the league and have a game in hand now on Liverpool, and they’re in a semi-final, people think everything is fantastic, you don’t get carried away the other way, either.”
Before going to Liverpool, United host Championship side Watford in the FA Cup third round and face a trip to Turf Moor to play Burnley.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts to Man Utd’s 2-0 loss at home to Man City in the Carabao Cup
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
