Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has conceded Liverpool and Manchester City are ‘too far ahead’ of Manchester United and has called on the club to spend on ‘quality’ to help close the gap on their Premier League rivals.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has warned fans that it may not be ‘business as usual’ this summer due to the repercussions of the coronavirus crisis but the club are pressing ahead with plans to strengthen the team ahead of the 2020/21 season.
United have identified Jadon Sancho as their priority signing and Solskjaer is also wants more options at the back, with Lille’s Gabriel Magalhaes and Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile heavily linked with the Red devils in recent days.
But, Solskjaer looks set to miss out on Sancho after Dortmund confirmed that they are planning the new season with the winger in their squad and have no plans selling him to another club.
United missed Dortmund’s August 5 deadline to meet Sancho’s €120m asking price and Solskjaer hinted at his frustrations in his conference ahead of their Europa League semi-final game with Sevilla.
‘It’s a race. You can see teams building. We’re always looking at the squad and player logistics,’ he said.
‘It is definitely about quality – and it is going to cost money to get in players who are better than the ones we already have.
‘We still have a way to go to get to the level of the teams at the top of the Premier League. They are too far ahead of us. ‘We are still growing, getting better of course, but we are not the finished article. Nowhere near.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says it’s time for his players to ‘step up’ as Manchester United prepare to do battle with La Liga side Sevilla for a place in the Europa League final.
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‘We are physically definitely ready,’ the United head coach added. ‘Mentally the boys will be ready because a semi-final everyone would want to take part and join in. I just want them to enjoy it.
‘For me as well, looking forward to the semis. We’ve been already twice now in the semi this season. ‘Of course we’re happy with going as far as we have but we’re not satisfied. We want to go one step further.
‘You know that when you come to a semi-final, you’re playing against big teams. Good teams with quality. It’s time to step up for big players, big-game moments.
‘You have to have 100 per cent focus because any little moment can change the game. ‘We’ve learned that it’s very painful to lose a semi-final.’
