Ole Gunnar Solskjaer challenged Paul Pogba and Manchester United to make sure they build on their performance against Leeds United.
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The Red Devils started their Premier League season with a 5-1 loss to Leeds at Old Trafford last week, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a hat-trick in a convincing victory.
Pogba recorded four assists in a stellar performance, one more than he managed during the entire 2020-21 championship season.
The French star has only become the seventh player in Premier League history to score four goals in a single game, and the first for United.
Pogba’s future remains uncertain, with his contract expiring next year, although Solskjaer insists talks are underway between the club and midfielder representatives.
For now, the United manager wants his players to maintain their high standards when they travel to Southampton on Sunday, facing a side they beat 9-0 in their previous meeting in February.
“These are negotiations with representatives of Paul and the club,” Solskjaer said of Pogba’s contract talks. “Paul and I work together every day here and keep trying to improve, improve the team and have fun. When you win games, you have more fun.
“We have to make sure this game and that we get the big titles and all the praise that we get… it’s about bringing more energy to the next one and being better. A swallow never makes a summer. “
Another United player expected to leave before the transfer window closes is Jesse Lingard, who thrived on loan at West Ham last season and has been linked with a permanent return to the club.
Solskjaer, however, encouraged Lingard to find his way back into United’s regular roster.
“Jesse’s first priority is to join our team,” said the United manager. “Whenever your employer is Man United, it’s your priority. Together we can have a great time.
“With players on a team like the one I have now, it’s hard to say that this weekend you are not playing. I have to leave out the players from the starting XI, but from the team. But they have to know that they are going to play a role if we are to be successful.
“He came back sparkling and he has a big part to play.”
Solskjaer still expects the players to go on loan in the coming days. Welsh international Dylan Levitt has joined Dundee United for the remainder of the season, while James Garner is expected to return to Nottingham Forest, where he spent part of 2020-21.
However, Solskjaer has suggested that Amad Diallo could stay at United after impressing in training after returning from the Olympics with Cote d’Ivoire.
“I really think Jimmy will be on loan, it’s more or less done, he did really well in the preseason and really impressed me,” said Solskjaer. “For his career, six months or an extra season in the league will help him.
“With Amad I have to say he’s doing really well, very well in training, he came back a bit later after the Olympics and he looks really good. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. was left. It must be the right loan, good move, good club, good way of playing for each player. “
