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5 things we noticed from Man Utd training ahead of PSG
Manchester United beat Fulham 3-0 on the weekend to extend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sensational start to ten wins in his first 11 games in all competitions. Paul Pogba (2) and Anthony Martial were on the scoresheet for the Red Devils as they climbed to fourth in the Premier League table. Solskjaer's next test comes in the Champions League as United prepare to take on French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16. On Monday the temporary Red Devils boss took his players training. Here's five things we noticed from the session at Carrington. 1. All eyes on Romelu Lukaku Lukaku hasn't benefited from the Solskjaer revolution quite like his Manchester United team-mates; something that was picked up on by Jamie Redknapp. "It will come with Lukaku but he's the one that hasn't really perhaps responded to Ole because he's not been given a chance," Redknapp told Sky Sports. "I think he was injured when he [Solskjaer] first came. Everyone else has gone flying. You can see that it may take time or it might not happen for him at all. "It might not because the pace that Man United play with at the moment would enable people like [Marcus] Rashford and [Jesse] Lingard. They look better in the team than he does." Will the Belgian finally get his bit of luck in the Champions League this week? 2. Keeping tabs on Alexis Sanchez Sanchez was out of the first team set-up for the entirety of December after suffering an injury in training, but is on his way back for United. Solskjaer started him against Arsenal in the FA Cup, only for the Chilean to open the scoring for the Red Devils. Since then he's featured against Burnley , Leicester City and Fulham on the weekend, but does have a lot of competition for a place in the starting XI. Solsjkaer appears to be keeping an eye on Sanchez's progress post-injury, and it will be interesting to see if he starts in the Champions League. 3. Man United's shining light One man who will definitely be starting for Manchester United against Paris Saint-Germain is Paul Pogba. He may have been struggling with the sun on Monday, but the Frenchman has been a beacon of light for the Red Devils since Solskjaer's arrival. In his last nine fixtures for the Red Devils in all competitions - since Jose Mourinho's sacking - Pogba has netted an astonishing eight goals from midfield. He also has a bucket load of assists to boot and will be chomping at the bit to steal the limelight in the Champions League this week. 4. Someone's feeling confident Another talented young Frenchman brimming with confidence at Manchester United at the moment is Anthony Martial. Prior to Solskjaer's takeover, Martial appeared destined for the exit, but since the Norwegian stepped in and put an arm around him he's been a world-beater. He's also recently been tied down by the club for the best-part of his career and is ready to start winning things at United. On Sunday he scored a goal Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud of an
Man Utd news: What Marcus Rashford would not dare to do under Jose Mourinho - Garth Crooks
That is the verdict of former Tottenham forward Garth Crooks, who has hailed Rashford following his moment of magic against Brighton on Saturday. Rashford has been one of the leading lights for Manchester United in the post-Mourinho era as Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer has utilised him through the middle. And Brighton were his latest victims as Solskjaer kept up his 100 per cent start since returning to Manchester, guiding United to their seventh win on the spin. Rashford received the ball from marauding full-back Diogo Dalot on the left-hand side of the box before a fine piece of skill took him past an onrushing defender. The England international then maintained his composure to sensationally curl the ball into the top corner of the opposite side of the goal from an acute angle. Rashford’s strike was his fifth since Solskjaer took the reins at United in the wake of Mourinho’s sacking in December. And Crooks says the 21-year-old is now uninhibited, unlike when the Portuguese was the man in the dugout. "There was a moment in the Manchester United v Brighton game when I literally jumped out of my chair in the Final Score studio," Crooks told BBC Sport. "Marcus Rashford attempted the most wonderful piece of skill and just missed the Brighton upright. "Moments later, from a more acute angle, the United striker nailed the technique and scored a magnificent goal. "Two months ago the England striker wouldn't have dared to be so audacious in front of goal under the autocratic Jose Mourinho. "The result? Old Trafford once again has bums on seats and smiling faces." Rashford’s goal against Brighton came 15 minutes after Paul Pogba had put United ahead from the penalty spot. Crooks picked out Pogba too, saying he has no issue with the midfielder’s stuttering spot kick technique as long as he scores. "So the Manchester United renaissance continues under Paul Pogba," Crooks said. "At least that's what it looks like on the field of play as caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks on, perfectly at ease with matters as his five-star general takes care of business. "Pogba's first touch was so precise it caused Gaetan Bong to panic and bundle the Frenchman down in the penalty area. "As for the penalty - he can take them however he likes as long as he puts the ball in the back of the net."