Manchester United have changed the colour of the tarpaulin that covers the seats at Old Trafford after their players complained that they could not see each other clearly during matches.
In an episode that evoked memories of United’s famous half-time kit change at Southampton 25 years ago, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that the team’s disappointing home form this season was partly due to problems with poor visibility.
All four of United’s league defeats this season have come at Old Trafford and it now transpires that the players asked for the tarpaulin at the bottom of the stands to be changed from red to black as it clashed with their home kit.
The club agreed to their demands and the new banner, which also contains anti-racism messaging, was unveiled this month, two days before United’s latest home win against Brighton & Hove Albion.
When asked why his team had lost so many home games, Solskjaer, the United manager, said: “You’ll see a change now. You see the banners round the club, they’re not red any more. We’ve looked into this.
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“There shouldn’t be any reason really but some of the players have mentioned that split-second decision you have to make, you look over your shoulder if your team-mate is there or not, and the red shirt is on a red background with the red seats. So we have tried to change that along with an anti-racism campaign, so it was important it wasn’t red any more.”
Twenty-five years ago this week, Sir Alex Ferguson famously ordered his players to change out of their grey kits at half-time after going 3-0 down at Southampton’s old ground, the Dell. United pulled one goal back after the interval in their third kit, which was blue and white, but still lost the game 3-1.
United’s former vision specialist, Gail Stephenson, had pointed out to Ferguson that the players would struggle to pick each other out in front of crowds while wearing the dull grey kit.
Solskjaer will hope that his players have no trouble seeing each other at Old Trafford tomorrow night when they take on Granada in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final. United are strong favourites to qualify for a semi-final meeting with Roma or Ajax after winning the first leg 2-0.
“We have a great foundation to play from and a good result but we go in wanting to win,” Solskjaer said. “We want to play a good game, perform well. Granada will come here and give it everything they’ve got.”
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Marcus Rashford, who has been struggling with ankle and back problems, did not train today and is expected to be rested. Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay are suspended and Eric Bailly is isolating after testing positive for Covid-19. Axel Tuanzebe, the 23-year-old defender, is therefore expected to start his first game since January 27. Nemanja Matic, Victor Lindelof and Brandon Williams are one booking away from suspension.
Solskjaer said that had been impressed by the form of Jesse Lingard, who has scored eight goals since leaving Old Trafford to join West Ham United on loan. He refused to say whether the 28-year-old would be offered an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of next season.
“Jesse has been brilliant since he left,” Solskjaer said. “We welcome him back. I hope he’ll go to the Euros [with England] with his performances now and the confidence he has got. It was different here because of Bruno [Fernandes] and the form he has shown in Jesse’s favoured position.”
Amazon Prime announced today that it had signed a deal with Paul Pogba to make a documentary about his life. The series, which will be called The Pogmentary, will be released next year.
Excuses, excuses . . .
Liverpool After losing to Arsenal in extra time in the 1971 FA Cup final, the Liverpool captain, Emlyn Hughes, said his side were flagging because their shirts were too thick
Newcastle Kenny Dalglish’s side drew 1-1 with Stevenage Borough in an FA Cup fourth-round tie in 1998, and the manager blamed the high winds and the bouncy balls, which apparently suited Stevenage more
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Manchester United (2) v Granada (0)
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