Solskjaer reveals Man Utd schemer disappointed with bench role
Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, heaped praise on Juan Mata but admitted the midfielder has been far from happy with his game time this season after the win over FC Copenhagen.
Solskjaer is determined to make it third time lucky after edging past the plucky Danes to make the Europa League semi-finals.
The Premier League side had to dig surprisingly deep in sweltering Cologne, where Bruno Fernandes’ spot-kick ended the Danish side’s record European run in extra time.
The hard-fought 1-0 win seals a place in Sunday’s semi-final against either Sevilla or Wolves, with Solskjaer determined to reach his first final as United boss having this season fallen in the final four of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
“I don’t know how many shots we had in total, it must be close to 30, but the keeper he had probably the game of his life,” Solskjaer said. “We need to be more clinical in knockout games.
“I am delighted we are through to another semi-final for this team and the next challenge is to go one step further, and then hopefully win the last one, too.
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“We have worked hard throughout the season, and come quite a distance from where we were in terms of fitness, but mentally that is where it is decided.
“It was difficult conditions even for me. I started sweating and my t-shirt is wet and I’m glad I don’t have to start running.”
United will need to put in a vastly-improved performance when they return to Stadion Koln on Sunday as their sloppy play gave Copenhagen hope throughout Monday’s quarter-final.
Yet while far from their best, Solskjaer’s side had the better of the chances with the video assistant referee ruling out a penalty and fine Mason Greenwood goal in the first half.
Marcus Rashford saw a strike chalked off for offside at the start of a second half in which Fernandes hit a post and Anthony Martial saw a superb curling effort denied by superb Copenhagen goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson.
Stale Solbakken’s men took the match to extra time, when Fernandes scored the penalty won when Andreas Bjelland barged over Martial in the box.
Juan Mata, introduced at the start of extra time, played the pass that led to the spot-kick in a fine display off the bench when creativity and coolness was key.