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Rob DawsonCorrespondent
MANCHESTER, England — After beating Burnley Three-1 at Outdated Trafford, Manchester United are inside eight factors of Premier League leaders Manchester City with six video games to play. It’s the similar scenario that confronted Metropolis when chasing United in 2012 … and everyone knows how that completed.
Lightning is unlikely to strike twice, but when nothing else, United backed up Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s declare that they might do the whole lot within the ultimate weeks of the season to place strain on Pep Guardiola’s staff. It might take a monumental collapse, however that won’t cease loads of United followers maintaining a tally of Metropolis’s journey to Aston Villa on Wednesday.
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For some time on Sunday, it seemed as if that may be pointless after James Tarkowski headed an equaliser to cancel out Mason Greenwood‘s opener, however targets from Greenwood and Edinson Cavani within the ultimate six minutes handed United a primary dwelling win over Burnley since 2015 and added some additional intrigue across the recreation at Villa Park.
The scorer of a stoppage time winner in a Champions League ultimate, Solskjaer is aware of all in regards to the worth of refusing to throw within the towel.
“I’m actually proud that we by no means hand over and we’ve got confirmed so many occasions this season our health and resilience,” he mentioned. “We got here again final week [against Tottenham] and we scored three targets. We scored three targets within the second half once more [against Burnley].”
“The title might be unrealistic however stranger issues have occurred in soccer,” United’s supervisor added. “We simply need to do our job.”
Solskjaer is aware of United don’t have fun achievements until they arrive within the type of silverware, however with the title all however out of attain, his staff are nonetheless closing on a notable first throughout the post-Sir Alex Ferguson period.
United have matched their factors complete — 66 — for every of the final two seasons and, with a 12-point lead over fifth-place Chelsea, are set to ensure Champions League qualification, which may also mark consecutive top-four finishes for the primary time since Ferguson retired in 2013.
Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho — winners of 15 home titles round Europe and three Champions Leagues between them — are two of the three males to have failed the place Solskjaer, whose credentials as United supervisor are repeatedly questioned, appears set to succeed.
It isn’t a milestone that may have champagne corks popping within the Norwegian’s workplace however it’s noteworthy nonetheless.
On the very least it suggests United are extra constant. The subsequent step is to problem for the title repeatedly and, finally, win it; though that’s simpler mentioned than accomplished, Solskjaer seems to have constructed a platform.
Van Gaal and Mourinho each had two full seasons in cost and, whereas every received trophies, their league finishes learn fourth, fifth, sixth and second. In his two full campaigns as boss, Solskjaer is on the right track to complete third and second.
United misplaced three of their opening six league matches this season, however have been crushed in solely one in every of their final 26 top-flight video games. Beating Burnley – for the primary time at dwelling since 2015 — additionally gave them 5 league victories in a row for the primary time since Solskjaer received first six straight after taking up from Mourinho in December 2018.
“First half we began OK, obtained management however we could not discover the massive openings and Burnley made it extra of an end-to-end recreation, bit scrappy as a result of they defended and attacked so nicely we could not get a rhythm,” Solskjaer mentioned. “We performed and ran within the second half, obtained probabilities and obtained the purpose deservedly; you switched off for 2 seconds for the nook and that is how it’s towards Burnley.”
After scoring one league purpose between September and March, Greenwood has discovered the online in every of his final three video games, with 5 in his final six appearances in all competitions. Solskjaer’s prediction that the 19-year-old would begin scoring once more has been proved proper.
“Very comfortable for Mason,” Solskjaer mentioned. “He is mixing up his recreation. He goes inside and out of doors, he is maturing on a regular basis. It is pretty to see. He is put the work in on the coaching floor and reaps the rewards.”
Greenwood’s double attracts him degree with Wayne Rooney for league targets by a United teenager with 15 and late-season kind might but earn an England recall in time for the European Championships. That comeback is barely extra doubtless than overhauling Metropolis for the title, however United are doing their finest to show up the warmth.