LONDON • Jesse Lingard believes his good-natured competition with teammate Marcus Rashford, including goal and assist targets for each player, has helped bring the best out of them and drive Manchester United's bid to climb into the Premier League's top four.
Lingard and Rashford were reported to have feared their careers could stall due to Jose Mourinho's volatile temperament.
But, freed from their previous manager's shackles since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over as interim boss, the England internationals have been in fine form.
With nine goals between them since the Norwegian arrived, the good friends have given United's attack a more menacing look in recent weeks.
Rashford got the first goal of the Solskjaer reign, against Cardiff, and Lingard struck twice in that 5-1 rout.
Having netted the winner in United's 1-0 victory at Leicester last weekend, Rashford has now scored in six of his side's eight league games under Solskjaer.
"Marcus and me have been setting targets for each other to challenge ourselves," Lingard said. "Obviously it's different aims, maybe in certain games it's how many shots, or this many touches in a game.
"It's just different random things, just to make you think and it's to kind of push each other because you want your friend to be successful as well. I'm not going to go into the amount of numbers involved because then everyone will know."
FRIENDLY COMPETITION
It's just different random things, just to make you think and it's to kind of push each other because you want your friend to be successful as well.
JESSE LINGARD, Manchester United forward, on him and teammate Marcus Rashford setting various targets for each other.
Solskjaer has earned praise for inspiring his side's 10-match unbeaten run since replacing the sacked Mourinho in December.
With seven victories in eight league games, fifth-placed United have surged back into the race to qualify for next season's Champions League via a top-four finish.
United sit just two points behind Chelsea and can end this weekend in fourth place if they beat struggling Fulham at Craven Cottage today and Maurizio Sarri's team lose at Manchester City tomorrow.
The Red Devils also host Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday and face Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round later this month.
If Solskjaer can lead United to silverware and finish in the top four, it might be hard for the Glazer family and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to ignore his credentials for the manager's post on a permanent basis.
Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri feels the former United striker has already proved he deserves the job.
"At the moment, he deserves it. He's shown all the players are with him. Manchester United's mentality has changed. Why not?" said Ranieri, whose side are second bottom after one win in their past five league games.
Another player who has flourished under Solskjaer's watch is Phil Jones. United rewarded the defender with a new deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2023.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
FULHAM V MAN UNITED
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, 8.30pm
Premier League: Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says coach Maurizio Sarri Description: Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea, who host London rivals West Ham on Monday, are fifth in the table, level on 63 points with fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says Sarri | Sport24
via @YouTube"
Destiny Beckons (1) (on hold at the moment) - Wattpad
Football: Fandi Ahmad rues missed chances in U-22s' 1-1 draw
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk opens up on facing Lionel Messi in UCL semi final . 'Cannot Stop Messi Alone,' Admits Van Dijk. PTI Updated: 19.04.19. Football 2 min read.
I cannot stop Messi alone, admits Virgil Van Dijk- The New
260 Director Fas jobs available on Indeed.com. Apply to Deputy Director, Assistant Director, Director of Program Management and more! Director Fas Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com Skip to Job Postings , Search Close
Football News -PARIS (REUTERS) - Thieves broke in and stole luxury watches from the home of Paris St Germain's Dani Alves while the Brazilian defender was playing a match earlier this week, French
Football: PSG's Dani Alves house burgled during match: Report
Stubborn Sarri unruffled as Blues flop again. Midfielder Ander Herrera heading past Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to score Manchester United's opening goal in their 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round
Hudson-Odoi finally stretches his legs as glum Sarri takes
LIVERPOOL, England (REUTERS) - Liverpool put aside talk of title-race jitters as they returned to the top of the Premier League with a confident 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday
Liverpool back on top after win over Bournemouth - Football
LONDON: Aston Villa returned to the Premier League, after a three year absence, beating Derby County 2-1 in the Championship playoff final at Wembley on Monday (May 27). Goals from Anwar El Ghazi
Soccer: Villa return to Premier League with win over Derby
It had the brightest green eyes. James could've sworn he knew who is was, but he couldn't place his finger on it. The cheetah and Remus circled around the Shack, growling at each other. Finally, Remus pounced at the cheetah. But instead of jumping out of the way, the cheetah took to pounce, falling to the floor, being pinned down by Remus.
How to Survive a Cheetah Attack: 15 Steps (with Pictures)
Manchester City celebrated their domestic treble with an open-top bus parade on Monday, drawing an estimated 100,000 fans to the streets of the city centre. Pep Guardiola's City side became the
0 comments:
Post a Comment