Solskjaer praises Pellistri and says Lingard wants to fight for his place

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was pleased with Manchester United’s workout against Derby.

United won 2-1 on a hot afternoon at Pride Park thanks to goals from Tahith Chong and Facundo Pellistri.

Pellistri was a half-time substitute and this was his first match for the senior team since joining from Penarol last Autumn.

Speaking after the game, Solskjaer praised Pellistri for his contribution.

The United boss told the club website: “His first touch sets him up and he’s very good at dribbling and he’s composed, so there’s no trouble going past the ‘keeper. It thought he was bright.”

Lingard ‘wants to fight’

Jesse Lingard almost scored a spectacular goal in the second half when his curling strike from long range bounced back off the underside of the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Solskjaer said the 28-year-old wants to compete for a first team spot.

He said: “Jesse has come back, he’s been bright and he wants to fight for his place.

“There’s nothing better than seeing players willing to fight for their place. Of course, what he did towards the end of the season, that is the true Jesse.

“That’s what we know he is capable of. I think we saw towards the end [of our own season] that we lacked maybe some options at times.”

This is interesting as it had been assumed Lingard would want to move on.

There is no doubt United overplayed Bruno Fernandes last season so if Lingard can contribute regularly he can be a useful asset.

Of course these comments could be mind games from Solskjaer, looking to hike up Lingard’s price tag amid interest from other clubs. We have seen this happen before.

But what really counts is what Lingard wants, and if he genuinely wishes to stick around, then we should keep an open mind to it actually happening.

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