Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hails Manchester United's resolve after Champions League exit following goalless draw with Manchester City as manager praises their 'mental recovery'
- Manchester City were held to a goalless draw by Manchester United on Saturday
- Pep Guardiola's side dominated the ball but could not find a goal at Old Trafford
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his side's recovery from recent disappointments
- The Red Devils were dumped out of the Champions League just a few days ago
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was pleased with Manchester United's response to crashing out of the Champions League as his players fought for a point against Manchester City in a forgettable derby draw.
After dreadful defending played a key role in a costly defeat at RB Leipzig that saw them slip into the Europa League, United's players showed the kind of focus and organisation that had been lacking in Germany.
They looked solid but lacked a prolonged attacking threat in a drab 0-0 draw against City at an empty Old Trafford, where the video assistant referee overturned a second-half penalty as Marcus Rashford had strayed offside before being fouled by Kyle Walker.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed his Manchester United side in their 0-0 draw with Man City
The city rivals could not be separated in their goalless draw at Old Trafford on Saturday night
Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne had chances for City but they too lacked a cutting edge in a match that Solskjaer took positives from.
'Well, of course it was a big blow during the week so the way they've recovered, the way they've worked, how ready they were for the game, I was very, very pleased with it,' the United boss said. 'Exceptional attitude.
'Of course we had some moments where we had to defend, especially second half, there were times they really pegged us back.
'But we stuck at it, defended really well, so attitude-wise, mental recovery they've done brilliant.
The draw with Pep Guardiola's City comes days after United exited the Champions League
'Of course I'm happy with the clean sheet, but in games like this when you have some margins to score the goal, you win. If you have it against you, you lose, so a fair result for me was the draw.'
United won three of their four meetings with City last season, but Solskjaer said this was 'the best performance we have had' against Pep Guardiola's side during his time in charge.
'Possession on the ball, control (was better),' the Norwegian said comparing Saturday to previous meetings. 'Of course I think last year at the Etihad we could have blown them away from the 10th to the 25th minute. We could have scored four goals.
'Some unbelievable counter-attacking football, but we had about 30 per cent possession and that second half we were hanging on.
Solskjaer praised United's ability to control the ball against their arch-rivals at Old Trafford
'You felt there was less moments to hang on today and we had more of the ball.
'Maybe that's because they had more respect for us as well. I don't know, but I'd like to think we've developed that side of it.
'And then today we just didn't have enough to get those counter-attacks that we have.'
Saturday marked City's sixth successive match in all competitions without conceding, but their lack of attacking impetus against porous United raised eyebrows in a derby that failed to catch light.
Riyad Mahrez (right) and Kevin De Bruyne had the best chances for Man City on Saturday
City manager Guardiola praised Solskjaer's 'fast' United attack, particularly on the break
Guardiola said: 'I don't know what the feeling was from home but here we know we can go through more intensity.
'But we know we cannot settle down properly because when you attack they will punish you on the counter-attack. They are so fast, the quality from Man United.
'Yeah, I would have loved to have more chances, but we had chances with Gabriel (Jesus), Raheem (Sterling) and especially (Riyad) Mahrez in the first half.
'They had one corner in the first half and a late one from (Bruno) Fernandes, so we have to build from here.
'It's a good point. It's a point and I would love to win but it's OK. It's Old Trafford. It's a tough, tough opponent, they press, they are so fast up front. Yeah, it's Man United.'
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December 12, 2020 at 02:56PM
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Ole Gunnar Solksjaer hails Manchester United's reaction to European exit after goalless derby draw - Daily Mail
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