Solskjaer Does Not Want Manchester United's Progress To Be Measured By Trophies, Self Defense?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - It seems that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking for a defense if Manchester United fails to present a trophy this season by stating that the Red Devils' progress cannot be measured by the trophy won by the Old Trafford club.

Solskjaer's team faces a defining week of the season as they are on their way to winning their first trophy under the tutelage of the Norwegian manager.

United travel to AC Milan on Friday morning tomorrow for the second leg of the Europa League Last 16 after a 1-1 draw in the first meeting in Manchester.

After that United will be challenged by Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-final on Monday morning Western Indonesia Time, next week.

However, Solskjaer is considered to have led a major improvement in United's standard of play since replacing Jose Mourinho in 2018, however.

"When you look at the club culture and what happens every day, I feel a lot of progress in our daily routine and our work every day," said Solskjaer as quoted by Antara, Thursday, March 18.

"The boys have achieved what we want and it is up to the others to assess how much progress we have. We are 12 points ahead of what we experienced at the same time in the league last season. Of course, we are all aiming to win trophies," he explained.

"But as we have said, sometimes trophies can hide other facts about what happened to the club."

After losing four consecutive semifinals in the cup competition, the following days are considered by supporters and observers to be decisive days in the future of Solskjaer's position.

He has led United to second in the Premier League standings, but they are 14 points behind leaders Manchester City.

United grabbed the Europa League trophy in 2017 when coached by Mourinho who also led United to win the League Cup, while Louis Van Gaal presented the FA Cup while coaching United.

As a result, since leaving Alex Ferguson in 2013, United has only been able to win three trophies. But for Solskjaer, the trophy didn't really matter.

"In the league position, you see there is progress for me. Every cup competition brings trophies to you but sometimes it is more than just the ego of the manager and the club that we ended up winning something," said Solksjaer.