The game between fifth placed Manchester United and eighth placed Tottenham on Sunday may be in doubt but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is working on the assumption that it will go ahead.
“I hope we can continue the good form we are in and the players being so focused and doing their jobs,” said the United manager after his team had beaten LASK 5-0 in Thursday’s Europa League last 16 first leg.
“Sunday is a vital game in the challenge for the top four but we want to go there and dominate.
"Not everyone expected us to be in the top four challenging, but I said before the City game that if we can get six points before the international break them it will be a great position to be in going into the last six weeks.”
United beat City 2-0 and are now 11 unbeaten, having kept nine clean sheets in that run since a January defeat to Burnley.
“I believe that we’re going places, that we’re on the track that Man United need to be on,” explained the Norwegian.
“There’s different cultures in different clubs and different ways of doing things but I believe in the way we do things at Man United now. I don’t necessarily believe in everything that we have done before but I believe in what we are doing now. I think I’m the right man (to do this job), but the proof will be in the pudding.”
The Norwegian explained some of what he had done since he arrived in December 2018.
“I felt that a lot needed to be changed,” he said. “We’ve signed four players, we’ve lost quite a few but we’ve promoted loads of youngsters from within.
"I don’t feel that those changes feel dramatic for the squad, it feels like there’s continuity but we needed certain pieces in that puzzle and they’ve worked.”
Solskjaer has long praised his team.
“I have great staff, we sit and have great discussions about tactics before we go into games.
"I have a philosophy that I think is worthy of this club. I’m a red and I think I know what this club needs. With the staff – Mick (Phelan) and Michael (Carrick) and myself we’ve all played (top level professional football). Kieran (McKenna) is a fantastic coach and I’ve really enjoyed the discussions we've had and learned from them. That’s a great place for me.”
Solskjaer, whose side defeated Jose Mourinho’s Spurs at the start of December when they were desperate for a victory, updated United’s injury news.
“Aaron (Wan Bissaka) will be ready, but Jesse (Lingard) and Anthony (Martial) I’m not sure,” he said. “They’ve not trained this week. Anthony had a bad knock on his knee and he has some swelling but I hope he’s going to be ready.”
Paul Pogba, who has yet to play so far this year, is unlikely to return.
“I wouldn’t think Paul is ready,” said Solskjaer, who admitted the idea of Pogba and Bruno Fernandes playing together sounding “exciting”.
“He’s trained today and will train tomorrow but I don’t think he’s had enough sessions with the team. I had a nice conversation with him the other day and I wouldn’t think he would be against it if I asked him.”
