Manchester United ‘clear out’ looms large – Solskjaer to get rid of players

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, centre, watches the action from the touchline, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Burnley, at Old Trafford, in Manchester, England, Wednesday, January 22, 2020 [COURTESY]

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggested there will be more departures from Manchester United following their 2-0 defeat to Burnley on Wednesday.

United were jeered by their own fans as goals from Chris Wood and Jay Rodriguez in either half gave Burnley a first win at Old Trafford for 58 years on Wednesday, turning up the heat on Solskjaer.

It was United's second 2-0 defeat in four days after Liverpool beat them by the same score at Anfield on Sunday.

Solskjaer's side are now six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the race for a Champions League spot, and the manager said he would continue the clearout at the club after a performance that was "not good enough".

Ashley Young left the club to join Inter Milan this month, while Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia all left last summer.

And Solskjaer suggested more players would soon be on their way out of the club.

"We are looking to improve, we have got our targets," Solskjaer told BT Sport after the game. "This is our second defeat at home and first since August. I thought we had turned that corner. 

"We have started a clear-out and now I am going to be answering these questions until it [transfer window] closes. We are working on things.

"For me the most important thing is we have to perform on the pitch. Tonight wasn't good enough for a Manchester United team."

But Solskjaer - who has now lost more games than he has won as United's permanent manager - stood by his players and said that many of them are still adapting to being at United.

"The boys have given everything they have got but they are experiencing this period for the first time in their lives," said Solskjaer. "When you are at Manchester United you are playing at the biggest and best club in the world. Some of them have played 10, 12, 15 games and it's not easy for them.

"I'm going to back them and help them get through this. We can't do anything but hold our hands up and say it's not good enough.

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