As quoted by The Evening Standard, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has delivered an honest verdict on the revamp of his squad.
What did he say?
The Red Devils have seen a whole host of experienced first-team stars leave over the course of the past twelve months at Old Trafford.
The likes of Ander Herrera, Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young, amongst others, have all left the club recently, with United bringing in just four players on permanent deals, and one loan signing in the shape of Odion Ighalo last week.
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Now, Solskjaer has admitted that he has had to effectively “tear the house down” and start again, and that whilst the Red Devils are some way away from some of Sir Alex Ferguson’s title-winning sides, they have the “right mentality” to succeed.
He said: “As I’ve said last week, three weeks ago, four weeks ago, five weeks ago – it’s a rebuild. You had to tear the house down and you had to get players out that weren’t here in their minds. We’ve got players here now who will go that extra yard, that culture I want to set, that’s the Man United culture. That, for me, is the first tick. You don’t stay here if you don’t give everything to this team.”
A warning to Paul Pogba
Whilst Solskjaer may not have specifically mentioned Paul Pogba by name, there is no doubt a sense that the Norwegian’s words are a stark warning to players who perhaps still want out.
The £90m-rated star’s future was the subject of intense transfer speculation over the course of the summer transfer window, with him admitting that he is open to a fresh challenge, and then later revealing there is a “question mark” over his long-term career at the club.
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As Solskjaer strongly suggests, United are in the midst of a rebuild not just in terms of the players, but in respect to the mentality. The former Cardiff boss is trying to shake up the culture and ensure those who are at Old Trafford are fully committed to playing for the team. So if Pogba isn’t willing to give his all for the side and put a bed to these doubts over his future, then he could be heading out the exit door sooner rather than later.
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