Solskjaer aims dig at Scholes and Hargreaves over call for changes before Man United ran riot

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aimed a gentle jibe at Paul Scholes for demanding more flair in Manchester United‘s side after the manager was vindicated for his selections.

United eventually thrashed Roma in Thursday night’s Europa League semi-final first leg but had headed in for half-time level at 2-2.

Former United midfielders Scholes and Owen Hargreaves had called for attacking changes at the break while on punditry duty for BT Sport.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was rewarded for sticking by his players with emphatic victory

Solskjaer opted against making any substitutions until late in the game and they now take a four-goal advantage to Italy next week looking primed to reach the final.

‘It’s easy up there thinking who should play and who should not play,’ Solskjaer said. ‘Maybe those two should leave players out themselves and pick a team with balance!

‘Mason Greenwood should be disappointed not to be playing but it’s about balance. We have players who can create big moment with a foundation behind them.

‘We don’t feel the job is done but tonight was a good job done. We did well.. I’m very pleased with the response. The second half was very good.’

Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves had called for attacking changes at the break

Solskjaer told former United players ‘its easy up there’ to cast judgement on selection

Solskjaer did criticise his team’s defending, however, after gifting Roma two first-half goals.

‘The two goals are junior, schoolboy errors that shouldn’t happen at this level,’ he added. ‘We corrected it at half-time.

‘It’s about taking the chances. We took most of ours. The character showed that they came back and didn’t lose their heads. Maybe for 10 minutes we didn’t look great but we managed to get ourselves together.’

Paul Pogba – who scored United’s fifth of the night – claimed they cannot relent in the Italian capital next week.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s semi-final curse may be over after stunning first leg victory

‘We have to stay focused and play with the same mentality,’ Pogba said. ‘We were a bit all over the place after the second. We talked and said let’s do the right things. The manager spoke and motivated us.’

Chris Smalling conceded a contentious penalty – which Solskjaer admitted was harsh – on his return to Old Trafford after leaving in 2019.

‘Just pure disappointment,’ he said. ‘The goals we conceded were sloppy. It’s really ruined the hard work of the first half.’

The Red Devils scored five second-half goals to put one foot in the Europa League final

Manchester United produced a stunning second half comeback to beat Roma 6-2