Solskjaer: Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes 'brilliant' at Brighton

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer said 'it's always hard' playing against Brighton and Hove Albion but praised his side for their 3-0 win at The Amex.
Mason Greenwood opens the scoring for Manchester United at BrightonMason Greenwood opens the scoring for Manchester United at Brighton
Mason Greenwood opens the scoring for Manchester United at Brighton

The Norwegian said in a post-match interview his team put in an impressive performance against Brighton which puts them back into fifth place and leaves Brighton remaining six points above the relegation zone.

Eighteen-year-old striker Mason Greenwood opened the scoring for United in the 16th minute after cutting in from the right hand side onto his left foot and drilling a low shot through the legs of Lewis Dunk and past a helpless Maty Ryan at the near post.

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Gary Neville compared the young Englishmen's technique to former United striker Robin Van Persie.

"Mason's first goal was brilliant and he played fantastically. He's a special kid, we know when he gets faced up he looks dangerous. His link up play was great today." Solksjaer said.

"He's got a knack of that, he can go inside or outside, he is developing into a fine player. We know we have pace and we want to counter quickly, it was a fantastic goal [the third goal], we are very happy with it."

United's Bruno Fernandes continues to impress in the Premier League and chipped in with his fourth and fifth league goal since his move in January.

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Fernandes was on hand to side foot Paul Pogba's edge of the box lay-off, which took a deflection off of Alexis Mac Allister and wrong-footing Maty Ryan on the 26th minute.

United rounded off a sharp performance in the 50th minute with a quick counter attack. A strong head out of defence from Harry Maguire landed at the feet of Nemanja Matic in midfield, who pinged a delightful cross-field pass to a breaking Greenwood, who stood a cross up to the back post for Fernandes to volley into the Brighton net.

The Manchester United manager singled out man-of-the-match Bruno Fernandes for praise after his brace helped move two points behind Chelsea, occupying the final Champions League spot.

Solksjaer said, "Bruno has come and been fantastic. He has brought that winning mentality with him, that 99% is not good enough - it has to be 100%.

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"It's a joy to watch them when you see them express themselves like that.

"The confidence comes from performances and knowing they've done the right things leading in to the restart. They worked hard during the lockdown and we know we have loads to play for.

"The third goal was a great team goal. To see so many players sprinting forward to get on the end of it was fantastic. A great finish by Bruno Fernandes.

"Paul Pogba was top. He got hold of the ball, sprayed it, won headers. He's just going to get better and better."

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Fernandes added: "I was lucky with the first goal, but also the keeper was lucky with my first shot that hit the post.

"The second goal was amazing, an amazing pass from Mason. We knew that we needed to push forwards and to try and score from minute one."

Brighton boss Graham Potter added: "We played against a really good side tonight, Manchester United were the better team and they had some quality. Our response in the second half was really good and maybe deserved a goal but the better team won. I am proud of how the players stuck at it and kept going.

"We got killed on the counter-attack for the third goal but we had some good play but against United you are always on the stretch. It is a tough evening for us but one we will take a lot from and learn from it.

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"We always look at ourselves to try and improve and they are as good as anyone we have played this year. It is hard to contain but a positive performance in the second half.

"We knew before the game where we are at and the fight we have got, that does not change anything. We go to Norwich to fight."

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