Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 4y

Solskjaer: Man United's Everton capitulation my lowest point

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said his last trip to Everton was his "lowest point" as Manchester United manager as he prepares to take his team back to Goodison Park for the first time since a humiliating 4-0 defeat in April.

Solskjaer branded the thrashing "a capitulation" and in the immediate aftermath questioned whether his players cared enough to play for the club.

Everton have been transformed since the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti but Solskjaer has promised a better performance on Sunday.

"That was the lowest I've been," Solskjaer said.

"I think you all know that and remember that. That was a capitulation. We had absolutely nothing about us, even though their goals were more or less counter-attacks from set plays and long throw-ins.

"Everything you didn't want to see you saw in that game. Against Everton at home, they're hard to play against with two up front.

"They put players in the box and we knew what we were up against. I'm 100% sure we'll put a better performance up."

Of the players who featured at Goodison Park in April, David De Gea, Victor Lindelof, Nemanja Matic, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Fred, Andreas Pereira, Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay are still regulars.

Chris Smalling, Ashley Young, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez have left while Phil Jones and Diogo Dalot are on the fringes of the squad.

"That was the day, the lowest," Solskjaer said.

"I knew probably before then but one or two had their last chance, more or less, but we had to get to the summer first.

"I can with hand on heart 100% say these boys will never give in and never give up like that team did. These are the boys we want to build the next team around."

United extended their unbeaten run to seven with the 5-0 win over Club Brugge on Thursday night. Odion Ighalo scored his first goal for the club following his deadline day move from Shanghai Shenhua and the Nigerian could be asked to step in again if Anthony Martial cannot shake off a thigh injury he picked up in training on Wednesday.

"Odion has definitely shown what type of striker he is," Solskjaer added.

"He's ready for that game on Sunday. I don't know about Anthony, to be honest. I've not asked. He tried [to play against Brugge] so he wasn't that bad but we'll have to do a scan probably."

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