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
* Man City beat Liverpool 2-1, cut lead to four points Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four season on Juergen Klopp's side and cutting their lead at the top to four
Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four
Hammers pack a punch: Klopp, Football News & Top Stories
The tactic that frustrates a lot of Spurs fans arguably the most about Pochettino. By. waited too long and Spurs paid the price. path of complacency, and we
Premier League: Mauricio Pochettino warns Tottenham against
SINGAPORE - Our Tampines Hub will be screening the Uefa Champions League final for free on Sunday (June 2). Tampines residents and visitors to the Hub can catch the 3am game between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at the Town Square, which can seat 5,000 and will be open to full capacity to allow as many football fans as possible to attend.
Our Tampines Hub to screen Champions League showdown on
Jurgen Klopp has called for calm despite Borussia Dortmund experiencing a slump in form Dortmund's Sebastian Kehl, Shinji Kagawa and Ilkay Guendogan lead the team during a training session
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp 'calm' after watching Manchester
After Vincent Kompany's decision to join boyhood club Anderlecht as player-manager, we reflect on his best moments at Manchester City. Vincent Kompany said he had "lived the dream" as he
Vincent Kompany after FA Cup win: Man City are best team in
The FA has condemned the England fans who caused mayhem in Porto as 'an embarrassment to the team' - and says they are not welcome in football… Read More Tags: England fans FA football Nations League Portugal soccer violent
Violent England fans an embarrassment to the team and not
Coimbatore: Chennai City's I-League-winning coach Akbar Nawas Saturday called for a unified league with 20 teams, saying it would "benefit" the national team.Uncertainty looms over I-League's future with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) mulling bringing the league's top teams into the ISL fold.
Coaches Evening with Akbar Nawas - Athletes and Coaches
Sarri slammed over Kepa but says issue settled, Football News
Villa into playoff final after shootout win over West Brom 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Aston Villa beat Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion 4-3 on penalties to reach the Championship playoff final on
Aston Villa into play-off final after shootout win at West Brom
Football: Valencia chairman Murthy says King's Cup victory
SINGAPORE - Former Football Association of Singapore (FAS) general secretary Winston Lee withdrew his candidacy for one of nine seats on the executive committee members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), just before the Asian football body's congress in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (April 6).
Former FAS General Secretary, Winston Lee withdraws candidacy
0 comments:
Post a Comment