Solskjaer excited by ´speedy goalscorer´ Elanga ahead of possible debut

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is excited by the potential of forward Anthony Elanga, who is in contention to make his Manchester United debut against Granada in the Europa League.

United are away to the Spanish side on Thursday for the first leg of their quarter-final tie in a competition that represents their last hope of silverware this season.

Elanga, 18, has been added to the United squad for the competition and will travel to Spain with the first-team.

The Swedish striker signed a new contract last month and Solskjaer insists he has not only been included in the squad for experience and is ready for action.

Even if his debut does not come against Granada, it sounds like Elanga will be featuring for United soon.

“He’ll be in the squad, he’ll be on the bench,” Solskjaer said about the inclusion of Elanga. “He has impressed when he has been in training with us.

“He was very unlucky when he got a bad injury about two or three months ago because he was about to move into the first-team squad then. He has worked really hard to come back.

“He has got some x-factor, some attributes, it’s not like a gift, but the pace and acceleration and speed that he has got – that’s a given for wingers.

“When he’s got that speed, he’s always got qualities I like. He is a confident goalscoring winger.

“He has an appetite and hunger to improve and when he has been training with us the last while he has been here – he has not been fazed by it. 

“He has a lot of quality, speed and he is a goalscorer. He likes to beat men and has a right foot and left foot. 

“He has an appetite to develop and to keep learning. It’s not just for the experience. He’s ready to play a part.”

 

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 7, 2021

Forward Amad Diallo, who scored against Milan in the round of 16, is also pushing for a first United start.

“Of course he is [getting closer],” added Solskjaer of the €40million signing from Atalanta.

“He is getting more and more used to our expectations, our standards, our training, the level of intensity in the games over here. 

“He did well when he played 45 minutes against Milan, definitely a bright start, and we will see him gradually start games. 

“It might come now or it might come in a little while.”

Defender Eric Bailly is still in the Ivory Coast as he needs a negative coronavirus result before being allowed to return.

 

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 7, 2021

Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, was forced to come off against Brighton and Hove Albion last time out, a match in which he scored.

He will travel to Spain after training on Wednesday but Solskjaer will not take any unnecessary risks with the England forward.

The United boss added: “I can’t disclose my team now, we’re not going to do that. 

“Marcus is travelling and we have got to make a decision if he starts or is on the bench. I don’t think he’ll be 90-minute man, but let’s see where we’re at on Thursday.

“I don’t pick players when we know there is a risk. There’s always a risk when you step out on to the pitch, but if the physio says it’s too much of a risk I would never pick him. 

“Now, Marcus joined in training this morning and let’s see how he reacts. His back has recovered and it’s a tough one. 

“He wants to play and wants to give his all for Man United. We’ll listen to what he says like we did on Saturday when he came off and said it was too sore.”

Granada are playing in their first European campaign and are the first side since RB Leipzig in 2017-18 to reach the quarter-finals of a major continental competition while doing so.

The last side to reach the semi-finals in such a season was Villarreal in 2003-04 (UEFA Cup).

United, meanwhile, are in the quarter-final stages of a major European competition for the 27th time, progressing from 17 of the previous 26. 

They are winless in the first leg of each of their last three two-legged quarter-final matches in Europe (D2 L1).