Here are the main points of the Red Devils press conference on Monday, on the eve of their first group match in C1 on the Young Boys’ pitch in Bern (Tuesday at 6:45 p.m.):
Become a great European again
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: “The goal is to go all the way (in C1), but we know it’s going to be hard, it still is. We have added quality, experience and youth to the team, and we hope to be better prepared for what lies ahead.“.
“In some matches experience plays a role, in others it takes the exuberance and courage of youth. Tomorrow, it will be hot, the atmosphere will be electric, so of course we will need experienced players to calm it down and manage the match properly.“
“We’ve had enough disappointments. We had great moments, of course, but now this team has grown and matured, has the experience and the quality, and of course Raphaël (Varane) and Cristiano (Ronaldo) contribute to it. They add something you had to buy, unless you won (the C1) four times yourself (laughs).
“Now it’s up to us to have results and to prove that we can win trophies. Everyone here wants to be part of a Manchester United that wins, it’s the most magical feeling in the world“.
Ronaldo’s return
David de Gea (Manchester United goalkeeper): “It’s great to see Cristiano back home. He’s already having an impact, he’s scored some very important goals for us. Of course you know his quality, his experience is incredible, he is already a legend of the club, so it’s great to have him in the team. For us it is huge“.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, referring to a joke about the Portuguese lifestyle: “It’s not like we were gorging on junk food before Cristiano arrived. But obviously, he has proven over the years that he knows how to take care of himself. And I think he is an example for many players, on how to extend his career. When you retire you look behind yourself and it was the best time of your life so stay in the game as long as possible and be professional.“
Pogba, seven-time decisive passer
“Paul came back in good shape, he worked really hard during the summer and he came home sharp.” “What does a decisive pass consist of? A side pass to Bruno (Fernandes) who puts it in the skylight? Or a great ball for Mason (Greenwood)? He’s always been a top-class passer, we know he’s one of the best in European football, and his best assists of the season were probably not decisive: so I don’t count the assists. , it is for social networks and media. But Paul is playing well, that’s for sure.“
Ability to chain championship and C1
“I cannot look at the team and say: + We played a game in the middle of the week and we are tired. The players are sharper and we have been very robust in recent years and have improved our management of the pandemic a lot, with a succession of close matches. And with those we signed, it’s easier to run within the team, clearly“.
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