Solskjaer happy with Manchester United's pre-season work
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes he is winning the battle to get his Manchester United stars fit in time for the new season.
Solskjaer was concerned about the conditioning of the squad he inherited from Jose Mourinho.
But after putting the squad through a series of double training sessions on tour in Australia, the United manager is confident they will be ready to kick off the new campaign at home to Chelsea in a month's time.
'They should feel tired, they should feel that they are gaining something from it,' said Solskjaer. 'We are building fitness, robustness, mental robustness and it has been very encouraging. They have been great. Of course, we have also worked on a couple of new tactical approaches and ways that we think can benefit us this year.
'It's a long season and if you get these six weeks in, then the league starts and there are still three to four weeks when we have only one game a week, so we can get some proper work done there as well. I'm sure that when the league starts we will be ready, sharp and fit enough.
'Kieran (McKenna), Mike (Phelan), Michael (Carrick), Demps (Mark Dempsey) have put some great sessions on and I have really enjoyed watching, and just having a little bit of input. You want to get everyone through and you want to get there without any niggles, and losing three or four days. I have been part of it myself when you have stop-start pre-seasons, you don't really get your rhythm going.
'You want the kit on. Training is good and we play 11-a-side, but as soon as you get your kit on you are playing with your teammates and against someone else. It is different. That is when we can see if the work we have done will take a bit of time, or if they have grasped it already.'
Solskjaer believes that summer signings Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have added pace to the squad.
'The two of them do have top, top speed,' he added. 'Modern football is stop-start, it is go again, speed, tempo, quality, so those two have put their marker down. Of course, with our boys, we have got some quick ones.
'I think they have been great. Dan came in on the first day, Aaron has just come to tour now and has been training here. I think they enjoy it. Of course it is a step up for them with the quality of teammates and quality of training.
'Aaron has only just stopped playing with England in June, so does that say a lot about him that he didn't want to be off and chose to come here? He had maybe 10 days since when he signed for us. But he wanted to be part of this tour and I think it is important that you are part of a new team. When you travel away like this, they are with each other all of the time and it is a big team bonding period.
'You just want good players, good people, quality and speed of course is a big thing in football nowadays. The more X-factors you have in a team, the better you are. Any player who plays against, say (Marcus) Rashford, (Anthony) Martial, Dan James, with the pace they have got, I think you are worried that they can hurt you - even if they have an off day.'
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes he is winning the battle to get his Manchester United stars fit in time for the new season.
Solskjaer was concerned about the conditioning of the squad he inherited from Jose Mourinho.
But after putting the squad through a series of double training sessions on tour in Australia, the United manager is confident they will be ready to kick off the new campaign at home to Chelsea in a month's time.
'They should feel tired, they should feel that they are gaining something from it,' said Solskjaer. 'We are building fitness, robustness, mental robustness and it has been very encouraging. They have been great. Of course, we have also worked on a couple of new tactical approaches and ways that we think can benefit us this year.
'It's a long season and if you get these six weeks in, then the league starts and there are still three to four weeks when we have only one game a week, so we can get some proper work done there as well. I'm sure that when the league starts we will be ready, sharp and fit enough.
'Kieran (McKenna), Mike (Phelan), Michael (Carrick), Demps (Mark Dempsey) have put some great sessions on and I have really enjoyed watching, and just having a little bit of input. You want to get everyone through and you want to get there without any niggles, and losing three or four days. I have been part of it myself when you have stop-start pre-seasons, you don't really get your rhythm going.
'You want the kit on. Training is good and we play 11-a-side, but as soon as you get your kit on you are playing with your teammates and against someone else. It is different. That is when we can see if the work we have done will take a bit of time, or if they have grasped it already.'
Solskjaer believes that summer signings Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have added pace to the squad.
'The two of them do have top, top speed,' he added. 'Modern football is stop-start, it is go again, speed, tempo, quality, so those two have put their marker down. Of course, with our boys, we have got some quick ones.
'I think they have been great. Dan came in on the first day, Aaron has just come to tour now and has been training here. I think they enjoy it. Of course it is a step up for them with the quality of teammates and quality of training.
'Aaron has only just stopped playing with England in June, so does that say a lot about him that he didn't want to be off and chose to come here? He had maybe 10 days since when he signed for us. But he wanted to be part of this tour and I think it is important that you are part of a new team. When you travel away like this, they are with each other all of the time and it is a big team bonding period.
'You just want good players, good people, quality and speed of course is a big thing in football nowadays. The more X-factors you have in a team, the better you are. Any player who plays against, say (Marcus) Rashford, (Anthony) Martial, Dan James, with the pace they have got, I think you are worried that they can hurt you - even if they have an off day.'
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