Solskjaer delivering on pre-season message to Red Devils

Marcus Rashford insists Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is utilising pre-season as a chance to impress his message on the players.

The England forward feels the quality of work has been impressively intense so far and Rashford is confident that Solskjaer has already increased the quality of training.

The Norwegian is overseeing his first pre-season campaign at the club following his appointment midway through the 2018/19 term. Rashford says he is already feeling the benefits during United’s pre-season tour in Australia.

“I just think that little things like pictures in our heads are a lot clearer already,” he says.

“Some of the other lads have been here in pre-season longer than I have, but in the short time I have been here things are becoming clearer to me on what the manager wants and how we are to do it on the pitch, so that will put us in good stead for the rest of the season.”

Rashford, 21, already understands the necessity of a solid pre-season foundation and he feels Solskjaer has raised standards.

“I think that has stood for the last few years that I have been here anyway, and I think that stands forever – footballers want to win, but the thing that has gone up for me is the intensity and just the level of training. We are starting to understand it all a bit better.

“We can use this. This is Ole’s first pre-season and he can really stamp down what he wants to do. We have got to use the remainder of the time here and then in Singapore and China to keep progressing and improving.”

Manchester United are 2.05 to finish in the top four next season and 21.00 to win the Premier League title.