Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains heated exchange with Jesse Lingard in derby

Solskjaer appeared to berate Lingard for losing possession too easily

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explained his touchline rant to Jesse Lingard during Manchester United’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City was just a “heat of the moment” exchange.

United won Wednesday’s second leg 1-0 at the Etihad but did not do enough to overturn the first leg’s 3-1 deficit and reach the Wembley final.

Television cameras caught Solskjaer berating Lingard after Raheem Sterling had missed a glorious chance to equalise for City on a counter-attack. Lingard had lost possession in City’s half, allowing Sterling to break quickly.

Solskjaer appeared to tell Lingard: “One more time and you’re f***ing coming off.” Victor Lindelof, the United centre-half, had also been lucky not to set up a City goal with a slack back pass before half time.

Lingard was replaced by Andreas Pereira in the 65th minute but Solskjaer downplayed their earlier exchange, having stressed how pleased he was with the attitude of his players throughout the game.

“Just heat of the moment, [it happens] once in a while,” he said. “When you lose the ball, make sure we try to play more. And in the next moment him and Victor grew in confidence and started playing.”

Solskjaer added: “Once in a while you’re going to make mistakes but if you’re going to come here and just defend you’ve got no chance.

“Yes, we created one or two dangerous moments with the way we tried to play our way out, but that’s the way we want the box to express themselves. We have to do that to release the pressure.”

The United manager was pleased with the application shown by his side, who beat City at the Etihad for the second time in two months despite failing to progress.

“I want to talk about the players,” Solskjaer said. “They’ve come here twice in six weeks and beat Man City. It’s difficult enough in 10 years to beat them twice. The attitude, they gave us everything