Ander Herrera: United’s focus should stay on Fulham match

Midfielder warns against getting carried away after Solskjaer’s ninth win in unbeaten run

Manchester United’s Ander Herrera:  “It will be a big mistake if we think further than Fulham – that’s a massive game for us.” Photograph: John Walton/PA Wire
Manchester United’s Ander Herrera: “It will be a big mistake if we think further than Fulham – that’s a massive game for us.” Photograph: John Walton/PA Wire

Ander Herrera has warned Manchester United it would be a "big mistake" to lose focus ahead of their mammoth month.

The midfielder remains wary of getting carried away after Sunday’s 1-0 win at Leicester.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continued his unbeaten start as boss after Marcus Rashford's early goal, on his 100th United appearance, sealed a ninth win in 10 matches under the Norwegian.

United moved up to fifth in the Premier League, two points behind the top four, and go to Fulham on Saturday before hosting Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League next Tuesday.

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After that comes an FA Cup fifth-round trip to Chelsea on February 18th, which is quickly followed by an Old Trafford showdown with Premier League leaders Liverpool as United do battle on three fronts this month.

However, Herrera has called for attention to remain on Fulham.

He said: “It will be a big mistake if we think further than Fulham – that’s a massive game for us because Chelsea are playing [Manchester] City. Let’s go game by game, because if you lose one game you regret.

In the Premier League it's impossible to go unbeaten from when the manager came in

“Now for Fulham, then we will think about PSG. The best way to prepare for the PSG game is to try and win away at Fulham and that’s the way I think.”

Trip to Paris

United have at least 16 games left this season in three different competitions – including league matches against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal as well as the trip to Paris – and Herrera does not think the Red Devils will be able to extend their unbeaten run under Solskjaer until the end of the campaign.

“That is impossible, the Premier League is so tough. City is a fantastic team and they lost away at Newcastle the other day,” he said.

“In the Premier League it’s impossible to go unbeaten from when the manager came in, to have 25 or 30 games unbeaten.”

But Herrera refused to weigh in on whether Solskjaer should get the job permanently or compare what he has done to predecessor José Mourinho, despite the immediate turnaround since the Portuguese was sacked in December.

He added: “We are very happy with him at the moment but it’s not my decision. I’m not going to do comparisons. I am only going to speak about what is happening now. I’m not comparing. We are very happy with him, everyone feels free.

“We’re playing with a lot of freedom, this is one of the things he is talking about every day.”

Leicester have won just four home league games this season and sit 11th, six points behind Wolves in seventh.

Jeered

Frustration continues to grow at the King Power Stadium and boss Claude Puel was jeered by a section of supporters after he substituted James Maddison in the second half.

But Ben Chilwell has asked the Foxes faithful to trust Puel.

"Of course, him, us, everyone at the training ground are all trying our best. It would be nice if they were patient with us but you can understand they expect results with the quality we've got," said the England left-back.

“It’s a learning curve for us and we are learning and improving. That’s the main thing you have to take from the past few weeks.

“If you look at the team now from the team which won the league, it’s pretty much a different 11 and it’s a very young squad.

“The fans expect results which is understandable, but it’s a young team which is learning. We’re not scrapping in a relegation battle.”