Solskjaer warns Man Utd stars to stay in shape and not let themselves go on holiday

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER will send his stumbling stars on their summer break with the warning: Let yourself go and you will get left behind.

Manchester United finish their sorry season against  Cardiff today, with sixth place their likeliest finish — nearly a whopping 30 points behind Manchester City and Liverpool.

Boss Solskjaer has already admitted there is virtually no chance of a title challenge next year, maybe not for another two or three, such is the size of his rebuilding job.

Yet that  has not stopped him throwing down the gauntlet to his lacklustre Red Devils who have failed so dismally over the past nine months.

Each will be sent away with a specific dietary and training regime for the summer. And anyone not following it to the letter will find themselves left at Carrington to get into shape.

Solskjaer  insists  fitness has been a problem since the day he arrived to replace Jose Mourinho in December.

Romelu Lukaku has been labelled too muscle-bound, while  soon-to-leave Antonio Valencia was accused by some of not being in ideal shape when he returned last summer.

Before them, Luke Shaw’s fitness was slammed when he was pictured on holiday last June looking a bit tubby.

In fairness to the left-back he knuckled down and  has just been named the club’s double Player of the Year.

We’re not going to use the first ten days to build them up, they should be ready to go.

Solskjaer

Now Solskjaer has a full pre-season to make sure there is no repeat next term.

United will play five pre-season tour matches,  taking the first team to Australia, China, Singapore and Wales to face Perth Glory, Leeds, Inter Milan, Spurs and AC Milan.

Solskjaer said: “It’s not like a threat but whoever’s not ready on July 1 will probably stay here and not travel with us.

“We only want and need players we can use over there.

“We have a longer summer break than any of the other challengers and have to use that as an advantage.

“They all have individual programmes. Some need strength, some need cardio-vascular stuff, it’s all different.

“We expect them to be ready to go  when we start. We’re not going to use the first ten days to build them up, they should be ready to go.”

I’ve seen some of the young lads who have a chance to go with the first team and they’ve come back in a state.

Solskjaer

As a player Solskjaer had ten pre-seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson, who used to look into his players’ eyes on their return to see if the fire burned as brightly as the previous campaign.

It is an ethos he will use himself when the current crop arrive back after their break.

He added: “It’s hard for the young kids. We send them away saying, ‘Look after yourself’, because you never know what the manager is going to do when you come back.

“I’ve seen some of the young lads who have a chance to go with the first team and they’ve come back in a state.

“They aren’t playing football any more at the level they should be. They own their own fate to be fair.”

With all-English finals in both European competitions, and City on the verge of retaining their title, it has been a bleak couple of months for everyone at Old Trafford.

Given their current position in relation to the expectations, there is a good case for saying Solskjaer has the toughest job in football.

But he said: “It might be the toughest, but it’s also the best job in football. I can’t imagine any better place to be and any club with more potential.

“Yes, we are behind what we’ve been used to and have had some years like that now. But the year before last Jose won the Europa League, then we were second in the league the next year.

“I look at it as a great chance to start rebuilding. If you meet some hurdles do you want to creep under them or jump over them?

“I love challenges. The staff love challenges and I know the players have stood up to it. When you sign for Man United that’s why you do it — to rise to these challenges.

“We know and understand every year can’t be just rosy.  This year we have been below par. I know we have a way to go and big improvements to make.”