E’re not pretty like City so we play with energy instead

vTurf Moor, 7.45pm

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER says Manchester United cannot replicate the quality of football produced by champions and local rivals Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s back-to-back title winners have been revered for their fluent, passing style. But Solskjaer claims United must rely on a different approach to be successful. Solskjaer, who takes his side to Burnley tonight, wants United to play with pace and power, going into games at full throttle, just like the side he played in under Sir Alex Ferguson.

“I think it’s been told to the players, in quite certain terms, what kind of team we are,” said the Norwegian, who took over from Jose Mourinho a year ago.

“They know what we expect. They know when we’re at our best. We have to make it hard to play against us. We can’t play tippy-tappy football.

“We can’t, at this moment in time, play like Manchester City. It’s only City that can do that.

“We have to show more energy, drive, urgency and selflessness in every single game.

“That is the way we have to play at the moment.”

Despite defeats by Crystal Palace, West Ham, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Watford in the first half of the season, United are just four points off fourth spot.

Wins over Chelsea, Leicester, Tottenham and City, as well as being the only side in the Premier League this season to take points off runaway leaders Liverpool, have shown what United are capable of. Now Solskjaer wants United, who are seventh, 24 points off top spot, to embark on a consistent winning run to avoid the race for a Champions League place going down to the final day of the season.

“If we get some consistency, I don’t think it’s going to go down to the wire,” said Solskjaer.

“We should get into the top four without waiting for the last game against Leicester.

“But of course it might go down to t h e last g a m e , who knows?

“I still expect a lot from this team this year. I expect them to be ready for Burnley because they’re next.”