No more excuses, Ole! Jamie Carragher tells Solskjaer his £500m team MUST go for the league, after ‘crumbling’ last year and with Man United wanting to ‘spend £50m in every position’ for a title tilt
- Manchester United spent £73m as they finally landed winger Jadon Sancho
- The Red Devils have also brought in Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane
- Jamie Carragher believes Manchester United must now target the league title
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had his transition but now it’s game on, says Carragher
- United open their Premier League campaign against Leeds United on Saturday
Jamie Carragher believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must challenge his £500million Manchester United squad to win the Premier League – and anything but that is a failure with the so-called period of transition now over.
The United boss is entering his third full season in charge after taking over midway through the 2018-19 season and has spent big this summer, signing Jadon Sancho for £73m and Raphael Varane on his way for £42m.
But he is yet to win a trophy after losing the Europa League final on penalties last season – and Carragher believes the time has come for Solskjaer to throw down the gauntlet to his players.
Jamie Carragher believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must challenge his squad to win the league
The Red Devils boss has spent big this summer, signing winger Jadon Sancho for £73million
‘Solskjaer is entering his third full season at Old Trafford now and the club have backed him with a new three-year contract, so it’s time United really went for the league,’ Carragher said, in his column for The Telegraph.
‘That has to be the expectation, the belief. It’s no good thinking anything else. Real Madrid or Bayern Munich would not expect any less and Manchester United absolutely consider themselves to be in that bracket of club.
‘You can’t downgrade ambition at clubs like that.’
United have not won a trophy since winning the Europa League in 2017 – and last won the league in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge back in 2013.
Manchester United last won the Premier League in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in 2012-13
They came second last season but finished a lengthy 12 points behind comfortable champions and fierce rivals Manchester City.
‘United got themselves into a position to challenge for the title last season and then crumbled from January onwards,’ Carragher continues.
‘We’re about to see if he (Solskjaer) himself has that X-factor – the buzzword United often use to describe players – to help the team to take the next step they absolutely must. They finished second and were unbeaten away from home last season but they’ve got to go one better.’
United were in contention for the Premier League title last season before falling away
‘I think Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp would be confident of winning the title with this United squad. They have £50million-plus players all over the pitch. United have the most expensive starting XI in the Premier League at just over £500m, a shade more than what Manchester City’s best team cost even with £100m Jack Grealish in the side.
‘It’s a good and expensively assembled squad. There should be real pressure on United to deliver this season. They have been through a period of transition, but that talk has to stop now.’
United begin their Premier League campaign at home to Leeds United on Saturday lunchtime with a full house expected at Old Trafford.
