Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United’s struggles last season were down to mental tiredness.
The Red Devils endured a rollercoaster season which included the sacking of Jose Mourinho, a mini resurgence following Solskjaer’s appointment, but ultimately a hugely disappointing sixth-place finish.
United limped over the line with a dreadful run of five games without a win, but Solskjaer promises his side will improve this term following an impressive pre-season campaign.
“It’s been encouraging so far. Everyone went to their summer holidays with a bad taste in the mouth and disappointment with the way the season ended.
“Football is an emotional game. It’s always difficult when a new manager has to come in and the previous one loses his job. But the players handled it well over the summer and they’ve come back really fit and sharp.
“I know how fine the margins are in football and how easily things can go from good to bad. It’s a mental game, it’s all in the head.
“We didn’t handle the ups and the downs well enough, we know that. That would be down to mental tiredness because it was a draining season for everyone. But we’ll be better this year.
“We need to improve and we need to be better. The more we improve and the more we get better, the bigger the chance we can challenge for trophies at the end of the season.
“These boys have shown their capabilities. If we just stay level-headed, I can see us improving a lot.”
United have shrugged off continued speculation surrounding the futures of Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku to win all five of their pre-season friendlies, including victories over Tottenham and Inter Milan.
But Solskjaer knows that pre-season results will count for nothing next Sunday, when United welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford.
“We’ve been very pleased with it. It’s been nice seeing the boys come back to pre-season in good shape,” he added.
“But then again, no points have been handed out, and it doesn’t really matter when Chelsea come to Old Trafford on 11th August.”
