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Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer names two vital players ahead of Southampton clash
Manchester United face off against Southampton in their Premier League showdown on Sunday.
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Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes are vital for his side ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Southampton. Both players were magnificent in the 5-1 hammering of Leeds last time out. And they’re expected to be involved as the Red Devils seek another three points.
Manchester United were too strong for Leeds last weekend.
Fernandes operated at the peak of his powers that afternoon, scoring a sublime hat-trick as the Red Devils ran riot.
And Pogba was equally impressive, with the France international registering four assists as he ran the show in the middle of the park.
On Sunday, United go up against Southampton hoping to make it two wins from their opening two fixtures.
And Solskjaer believes both Fernandes and Pogba are vital to his side, hinting he sees the pair as talismanic figures within the squad.
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“As a footballer, when you look around and you see good footballers next to you that puts another layer of responsibility on yourself and your own performances,” he said.
“You have to play well to be in the team, you have to play well to be successful in this team.
“Paul is enjoying his football and I've said many times, my job is to make sure we're getting the best out of Paul and Bruno (Fernandes) and all the very good players we've got within a team structure.
“For me, to make players stay at Man United, when you see a good squad and get good results that helps.
“There was no better place to be when I was a player because we kept on winning.”
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Pogba has been heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, despite their recent signing of Barcelona icon Lionel Messi.
But Solskjaer has insisted the 2018 World Cup winner won’t be going anywhere ahead of the transfer deadline on August 31.
“Yes, I expect Paul to be here when the 1st of September comes,” said the 48-year-old.
“If you've got a five-year contract or a one-year contract, when you sign for Man United you have to rise to the challenge of performing on a consistent level.
“I'm not worried whatsoever that the length of any player's contract is changing the level of their motivation and inspiration.
“You want to play well for your team, your team-mates, yourself, your family, every time you play.
“What I expect is that the attitude and the approach to every game is the right one.
“That we have the same focus, the right focus, the right professionalism and, with that, I have no worries about Paul whatsoever.”
United failed to lose on the road last season, and Solskjaer feels his side will have to be razor-sharp to continue that run this term.
"Definitely, it’ll be a big difference,” he said.
“I don’t know how many points but we won so many points from going one goal down but you can’t afford to do that with fans in the stadium when you’re away from home.
“Because the fans mean so much in the energy levels, that little bit of extra edge, maybe some nerves if you’re the away team.
“We have to start better, that’s a definite. We have to, of course, manage the game so that the away fans are the ones that are heard.
“We’ve got the best away fans in the world but we can only hear them if we play well and start well. You want to silence the home crowd.
“I know that’s not going to happen when it’s the first game at St. Mary’s for 18 months, so that’s not going to happen, it’s going be loud, but it’s up to us to play the football to do that as well."