“You’ve got the best possible shirt over your head, so go out there and enjoy it. That’s how I felt when I played, that’s how I feel now when I lead them out.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer didn’t speak like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, but Manchester United's 3-1 win over Everton will certainly help him sleep a little easier.
Defeat to the Toffees could have spelled the end for Solskjaer at Old Trafford , amid reports suggesting Mauricio Pochettino has been sounded out over replacing him.
And after Bernard scored early on, he would have feared the worse. But the man who has carried United for much of 2020, Bruno Fernandes, bailed them out again.
Two goals and an assist inspired United to return to winning ways and ease the pressure on Solskjaer.
Ahead of the game at Goodison Park, Ian Wright had suggested that the more ambitious players, including Fernandes, could force the board into a decision.
“What you’ll find is, especially the ambitious players – the ones who want to get to where Man United are supposed to be,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s 'Kelly & Wrighty Show’.
“You watch how he’s playing and his body language in some of the games, you’re thinking, ‘What are the training sessions like? Is he getting what he needs to get out of it?'
"What you’ll start hearing out of there is you’ll start hearing things from people.
“The players will start saying things because they want a manager who’s going to push them. Bruno Fernandes, you’re hearing little snippets that he’s not happy for some reason.
He added: "You look at (Marcus) Rashford and (Mason) Greenwood, who you’re thinking with Bruno Fernandes and (Paul) Pogba they’re supposed to be getting chances left, right and centre with the calibre of player they’ve got.
Should Ole Gunnar Solskjaer be sacked as Man Utd manager? Have your say here.
“It’s not happening and that’s got to come from the coaching and the manager.”
Fernandes vehemently denied any bust-up with the manager during the 6-1 defeat on Merseyside and his performance in Merseyside signalled he's still fighting for the United boss.
A lot has been made about a lack of leadership within Solskjaer’s stuttering squad. And he may not be the most vocal, but Fernandes’ 31 goal involvements in 33 games is driving United forward and maybe keeping his manager in a job.
For another week at least.
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