Solskjaer says Liverpool thrashing was his "darkest day"

United was 4-0 down at halftime after woeful defending against the deadly Liverpool attack, led by hat-trick hero Mohamed Salah.

Published : Oct 25, 2021 11:40 IST

Manchester United's manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer labelled Sunday's 5-0 hammering at home to Liverpool the "darkest day" he has had as manager of the club but said he had no intention of quitting his role.
Manchester United's manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer labelled Sunday's 5-0 hammering at home to Liverpool the "darkest day" he has had as manager of the club but said he had no intention of quitting his role.
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Manchester United's manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer labelled Sunday's 5-0 hammering at home to Liverpool the "darkest day" he has had as manager of the club but said he had no intention of quitting his role.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer labelled Sunday's 5-0 hammering at home to Liverpool the "darkest day" he has had as manager of the club but said he had no intention of quitting his role.

United was 4-0 down at halftime after woeful defending against the deadly Liverpool attack, led by hat-trick hero Mohamed Salah.

"It is not easy to say something apart from it is the darkest day I have had leading these players," said the Norwegian who took over at the club in December 2018.

"We were not good enough individually and as a team, can't give a team like Liverpool those chances but unfortunately we did.

"The whole performance was not good enough. We created openings, they had chances and they have been clinical. The third goal decided the game," he added.

"You can look at last season, we lose to Spurs (Tottenham Hotspur) 6-1 - this is worse, miles worse. This is miles worse for me as a Manchester lad. I've just got to say we have to get over this as quickly as we can."

United is without a win in its last four games and is now eight points behind leader Chelsea, a position which will increase the calls from some quarters for a change of manager.

READ: Klopp calls 5-0 win at Man United an 'insane result'

But Solskjaer said that there was no question of him throwing in the towel.

"I have come too far, we have come too far as a group. We are too close to give up now," he said.

However, he conceded that he now has a difficult task in getting the team back on the right track.

"It is going to be a difficult one. The players will be low but there's loads of characters there," he said.

"We know we are rock bottom, we can't feel any worse than this. Let's see where we take it."

United forward Cristiano Ronaldo blamed the team for such an embarrassing defeat at home and said fans of the Old Trafford club deserve better.

"Sometimes the result is not the one we fight for. Sometimes the score is not the one we want. And this is on us, only on us, because there's no one else to blame," Ronaldo, who returned to the club in the summer for his second spell, said on Instagram.

"Our fans were, once again, amazing in their constant support. They deserve better than this, much better, and it’s up to us to deliver. The time is now!"

Defender Luke Shaw, who made a series of defensive errors alongside captain Harry Maguire, echoed Ronaldo's comments.

"We are extremely disappointed, it is not good enough and it hurts a lot," Shaw told the club website. "I think football is obviously a team sport, we are in it together and we are all together.

"But I think, as individuals, we need to take responsibility for some of the actions tonight (Sunday)... I have not been at my best and I know that, for maybe the last few weeks, so I need to reflect on that."

United travels to Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's league game.

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