There are lies, damned lies and statistics … and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reckons the numbers are lying about Mason Greenwood.
The 19-year-old’s winning header against Brighton on Sunday night was his first Premier League goal since December 5 and only his second of the season.
But Solskjaer says he is delighted with Greenwood’s form and that he is being unfairly judged on a Premier League drought that only came to an end after four months.
The Manchester United boss explains: “In this world, we always talk about stats and goal output but the boy has played fantastically well in recent months.
“He keeps learning and keeps improving. He takes the ball well and runs with the ball well. We are really pleased with him.”
While he has struggled to find the net, Greenwood has been one of United’s livelier all-round performers since the turn of the year.
But the Old Trafford boss admits it was nice to see him pounce for the sort of poacher’s effort Solskjaer himself would have been proud of.
“When gets those sort of goals, he is going to add another dimension to his game,” says Solskjaer. “He needs to add those sort of goals to his tally.”
And even if the Uruguayan only stays in Manchester until the end of this season, Edinson Cavani could play an important role in Greenwood’s development.
Solskjaer says: “He is learning from Eddie and can carry on doing that. He has been working on his heading.”
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
And Greenwood himself confirms: “I scored a header which is something I’ve been working on a lot behind the scenes. It’s a confidence booster, I’ve not scored as many in the Premier League.”
With Anthony Martial likely to kiss the rest of the season with a sprained knee and Marcus Rashford suffering from a knock, Greenwood will play a vital role in United’s bid to nail down the runners-up slot in the Premier League and go all the way in the Europa League.
After signing a new deal that ties him to Old Trafford until at least 2025, Greenwood is clearly seen as pivotal to the team’s future.
And while it would seem an extremely long shot, a storming end to the season could yet see Greenwood have a shot at making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euros.
