Ole’s at the wheel! Solskjaer arrives to take training as Manchester United boss switches focus to Barcelona clash in the Champions League after seeing Marcos Rojo feature for Under 23 side
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived at Carrington to take training on Saturday morning
- The Norwegian watched Marcos Rojo play for the Under 23 side on Friday night
- Manchester United’s focus turns to facing Barcelona in the Champions League
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stepped up preparations for the visit of Barcelona in the Champions League as he arrived to take training on Saturday morning.
The Norwegian boss was at Old Trafford on Friday night to watch Marcos Rojo for the Under 23 side in a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion.
With a reduced round of Premier League fixtures, Solskjaer had a rare Saturday out of the dugout but he had his players in for training with Lionel Messi and Co in town for the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wore a steely look of focus as he arrived for training on Saturday morning
The Manchester United boss is not taking a weekend off as he turns attentions to Barcelona
His Manchester United squad host the Catalan giants at Old Trafford in the Champions League
Solskjaer masterminded a famous comeback win over Paris Saint-Germain in Paris in the last-16 before he was given the job on a permanent basis and he will be looking for a similar shock against La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Marcus Rashford’s stoppage time penalty at the Parc des Princes ensured Solskjaer’s team became the first side in European Cup history to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit.
But with injuries and suspensions beginning to mount ahead of a run-in that includes the Champions League and a real battle for a top four spot in the Premier League, Solskjaer spent Friday night assessing players who could step up into the side.
The Champions League has treated United well this season with a win over PSG in the last-16
The Norwegian, alongside coach Kieran McKenna, were at Old Trafford to watch the Under 23s
The Norwegian boss is facing a bit of a selection crisis ahead of United’s clash with West Ham in eight days time with both Luke Shaw and Ashley Young set to miss the game through suspension.
Shaw picked up his 10th yellow card of the season in the defeat to Wolves on Tuesday earning him a two-game ban, while Young saw red for two bookable offences at Molineux.
The pair have been mainstays under Solskjaer and at a crucial moment in the season he faces a real test of trust in squad players who have limited game-time to lean on should they be thrown into the side.
Rojo, who has filled in at left back before, is considered to be Solskjaer’s man to step in at full-back but the United manager may think twice following the Argentine’s underwhelming performance at Old Trafford on Friday.
Ashley Young’s reckless challenge on Diogo Jota against Wolves at Molineux saw him sent off
Marcos Rojo was watched by Solskjaer on Friday and could be selected to step up into the side
United are outside favourites for both the top four spots and also in their Champions League double-header against the Catalan giants.
Solskjaer’s side welcome Barcelona to Old Trafford on April 10 and make the trip to the Nou Camp on April 16 for the second-leg.
Fans are hoping Solskjaer can conjure up the spirit of the 1999 treble-winning team – he scored the winning goal in Barcelona against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final – on the 20th anniversary of that side’s success to guide United into the last four.
