Huddersfield vs Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sends warning to under-performing players

Solskjaer conceded that the draw with Huddersfield may be the end of some United careers

Mark Critchley
John Smith's Stadium
Sunday 05 May 2019 17:04 BST
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Huddersfield vs Manchester United: Premier League preview

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted that Manchester United's draw with Huddersfield Town may be the end for some members of his squad, with a top-four Premier League finish now out of reach.

United were held 1-1 by relegated Huddersfield, with Isaac Mbenza cancelling out Scott McTominay’s opener at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Solskjaer’s side now cannot qualify for next season’s Champions League, while a sixth-place finish in the second Europa League berth now looks likely.

Alexis Sanchez was handed a rare start at Huddersfield but was ineffective once again before being substituted with an ankle injury after 54 minutes.

The Chilean, who is United’s highest-earner with a basic wage of around £350,000-a-week, has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer, less than 18 months on from his arrival.

When asked directly whether that could be Sanchez’s final United appearance, Solskjaer said that several players were at risk.

“I can’t talk about individuals now but there is the chance you have seen the last of [some] players. But I wouldn’t say that about any individual.

“Today was not one individual that was the disappointing thing. It was the whole team.”

Solskjaer also conceded that, on balance, United deserved to only play Europa League football next season after an underwhelming campaign.

“That was always a possibility. We gave ourselves a chance to be in the Champions League, something we didn’t think was possible.

“We had so many opportunities to grab third or fourth. We didn’t. It’s probably the right place for us to be next year, the Europa League.”

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