United are, undoubtedly, still short of the quality they need, despite the January capture of Bruno Fernandes, and must target key positions in the summer transfer market. However, shifting deadwood from the squad has been just as an important part of the process.
Results have been poor, yet Solskjaer is hoping that fans understand what is going on.
“I think the fans see what we’re trying to do and it had to be done. As I’ve said, it’s a rebuild. You had to tear the house down and you had to get players out that weren’t here in their minds,” the United boss is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
Marcos Rojo was the latest player to leave United, sealing a January loan to Estudiantes. He followed the likes of Alexis Sanchez - who may yet have an Old Trafford future if United cannot sell him - Romelu Lukaku, Matteo Darmian, Antonio Valencia and others out of the door since Solskjaer was appointed on a permanent contract last March.
In those that are left, the Norwegian hopes that he now has the beginnings of what will grow into a successful side.
“We’ve got players here now who will go that extra yard, that culture I want to set. That’s the United culture. I know we’re not in the Sir Alex Ferguson era, but the players we have, they have the right mentality and they’re good personalities,” Solskjaer explained.
That mentality, he says, is the ‘first tick’ and the prerequisite to be a United player.
“When I came in, the squad weren’t right. Of course, we are a different squad to the championship-winning one that Sir Alex had,” he added.
“This group of players haven’t had that experience of winning. But that will come in the next few years, definitely. That’s what we’re working for and that’s why those players are here.”
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Source : 90min