Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told Edinson Cavani to make the most of the time he has left at the highest level of the game and to commit to Manchester United for another season. The 34-year-old now has seven goals in his last six appearances for United and his double in the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday helped ease nerves as United progressed to the Europa League final with an 8-5 aggregate success against Roma.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “Sometimes I look at him and think wow, at that age I had to retire because of my knees. I wish I could keep going like he does. So what I say to him as well: play at the highest level as long as you can. Play and enjoy it because suddenly it is taken away and hopefully we can see him here next year.”
Cavani has been hailed as a role model for Mason Greenwood this season but his professionalism and fitness are a shining example to all of Solskjaer’s squad. Solskjaer’s United squad remains a relatively young one and he believes Cavani is acting as an inspiration to all of them, despite the language barrier occasionally getting in the way.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “He has to be. When I had Sir Alex Ferguson as the manager, I must have picked up something from him. We had Ryan Giggs playing at the age he played and his teammates picked up something from him. And Edinson is like that as well. He is 34, he lives his life absolutely like a top professional. That’s how to look after yourself, that’s how to be focused, and I’m so pleased to have him in this squad. Even with his little English. Football is a language everyone understands and preparation and focus and concentration and professionality is something that everyone understands and they can see it every day when they look at him – which is great for my young team.”
Cavani is averaging 0.61 goals per 90 minutes for United this season and he’ll be aiming to add to his dozen goals for the club in the triple-header against Aston Villa, Leicester City and Liverpool this week. But the striker won’t be starting all three games and Solskjaer has promised rotation and an opportunity for youngsters after venting his fury at the schedule that will see his side play on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer added: “I can promise that no one will play three times 90 minutes if they have played on Thursday. Two games in three days? If it’s Christmas, halfway through the season, no problem. You take that once. But three games in five days now? Very very difficult. Three games in five days with the season we’ve had? Almost impossible. Four games in eight days? Impossible.”
