Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sets Man Utd stars unbeaten challenge as Premier League run-in begins

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged his Manchester United players to keep their unbeaten run going until the end of the season. United go into Tuesday night’s Premier League clash against Brighton in sixth place in the table but on a 14-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

And with a remaining run-in of six league matches containing four against bottom six sides keeping their run going would give them every chance of grabbing that top-four spot and with it Champions League qualification

“Any Man United team should go into any game against any opposition believing they can win that game so the short answer to whether we can go unbeaten is yes,” said Solskjaer.

“The long answer is that there’s more to it than that but we hope to extend it and want it to go on as long as possible.

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“Of course we are delighted with the way things are going at the moment but we are just going to take one game at a time.”

United have half a dozen league games left and potentially another six matches in the FA Cup and Europa League, the latter of which offers a back-door route into the Champions League.

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But Solskjaer does not want to leave it until the conclusion of that competition in Germany on August 21 given his desire to firm up transfer plans.

The United boss confirmed he remains interested in a striker in the summer despite insisting he is excited with current form of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and with the potential of Mason Greenwood.

“You need that competition for places at Man United,” he said. “All three have had a good development this season but they can be so much better.

“We’ve always got to look at improving, and if they don’t improve, we might have to look somewhere else to get better because we have to be better.

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“We’re too far away from where we need to be and want to be.”

Solskjaer believes that place is at the top table of European competition and is eager to book a place.

“For us that is what we are striving to do and get to,” he said. “Every year you are in the Champions League is a great experience and for the players it is a step forward playing against the best.

“But there are so many teams just above and just below us who want that place and we don’t want to get distracted by thinking too far ahead.”

United have not enjoyed trips to Brighton since the south-coast club returned to the top flight, losing on both their previous visits.

And Solskjaer insisted matches against relegation-threatened teams should never be viewed as three-point tap-ins.

Solskjaer also confirmed midfielder Angel Gomes is set for an Old Trafford exit after no agreement on a new deal has been reached with his representatives.

The former academy player of the year has found opportunities limited since making his debut in 2017.

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source: express.co.uk