Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has urged his players to start the 2021/2022 Premier League season strongly, in order to avoid a repeat of last year.
United lost three of their first six fixtures last term, including a defeat on the opening day to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
After beginning pre-season with a 2-1 win against Derby County on Sunday, Solskjaer has said he will be focusing on naming strong lineups in the remaining friendlies.
“There’ll probably be less and less for the kids – that’s just the way it goes. We have to start better than last season. We didn’t get off to a decent start at all and now it’s the first one under the belt.
“I think the Premier League is more competitive [than it used to be]. We had [when I was a player] maybe one competitor every season so, of course, the first six or seven games, it’s very important to stay there. You don’t win the league in the first six or seven games, but you can lose the chance of winning the league,” Solskjaer told the club’s official website.
United finished second last season, 12 points adrift of champions and rivals Manchester City.
The Red Devils begin next season at home to Leeds on August 14.
