Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to ring changes as Man United look to stop horror run in derby

Aditya Devavrat 00:41 23/04/2019
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    • United players will be desperate to bounce back after an embarrassing defeat to Everton - but supporters will be torn over wanting their side to win.

    For a Manchester United side looking to end a run of six defeats in eight games and bounce back from Sunday’s embarrassing 4-0 loss to Everton, which came four days after a 3-0 loss to Barcelona that sent them out of the Champions League, playing title-chasing Manchester City is the last thing they need.

    City enter Wednesday’s derby on the back of Saturday’s crucial win over Tottenham, and they will relish stamping their authority on their neighbours’ home patch.

    The task Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has on his hands to prevent that is one of our talking points for the game:

    HOW MANY PLAYERS CAN SOLSKJAER DROP?

    After United’s loss to Barcelona last week, Solskjaer said his players needed a “reality check” about their performances.

    They responded with that humiliation against Everton.

    “I’m going to be successful here and there are players there that won’t be part of that successful team,” Solskjaer fumed afterwards. “I don’t know” he answered when asked if the players cared enough about the club.

    The Norwegian might channel his inner Jose Mourinho and drop the team’s more self-indulgent players. But how many?

    Anthony Martial would deserve it after Sunday. Marcus Rashford looks spent and possibly injured.

    Paul Pogba’s motivation continues to be questioned. Selecting Romelu Lukaku in a big-six game is starting with one hand tied behind your back.

    Where does that leave Solskjaer? A front three of Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sanchez, and Juan Mata, with Ander Herrera back in midfield?

    Can that team beat City and rejuvenate their flagging top-four hopes?

    FODEN MAKING A STATEMENT FOR GUARDIOLA

    Another option open for Solskjaer is to promote some academy players, with Mason Greenwood, James Garner, Tahith Chong, and Angel Gomes all having been on the fringes of the first team.

    City have a youth star of their own they can count on, at the moment. Pep Guardiola sprung a surprise by starting Phil Foden against Tottenham on Saturday, with the young Englishman rewarding his manager by scoring the game’s only goal.

    Perhaps there was a statement in that selection, too. City have a vaunted academy, but Guardiola’s handling of its best prospects has been criticised, especially after the departures of Jadon Sancho and Brahim Diaz.

    Yet Foden was persuaded to sign a new contract, and now he’s coming good.

    The City manager may never publicly admit to having made mistakes over the likes of Sancho, but giving Foden a crucial role in the title race is a promising sign.

    BOTH SIDES CARRYING MEMORIES OF LAST YEAR 

    The last end-of-season encounter between the two Manchester clubs also featured only one side in the title race.

    Last year, City were looking for the ultimate insult of sealing the title by beating United, went 2-0 up in the first half, and should have made it four or five. Had that happened, the humiliation for the red side of Manchester would have made Sunday’s loss to Everton seem an improvement.

    Instead, Pogba inspired United to a comeback win and a stay of execution, as they were officially beaten to the title a week later.

    This time United are reduced to an even worse position. A shock win would hand the title initiative to Liverpool, the only team United hate more than their neighbours.

    The talent gap to City, meanwhile, would almost certainly see a 2-0 deficit converted to something bigger this time. How different things are to a year ago.

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