Man Utd boss Solskjaer admits he has ‘too many’ centre backs and can’t keep everyone happy

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has conceded he may have a problem on his hands because of an overload in central defence.

The back line had been identified as an area to strengthen after United recorded their worst defensive league campaign since 1979.

Solskjaer brought in £50million right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and £80m centre-half Harry Maguire in an effort to rectifiy the situation.

The former Leicester defender started alongside Victor Lindelof in the first league game of the season with Axel Tuanzebe, who spent last season at Aston Villa on loan, on the bench.

There were three fit Manchester United centre-backs – Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo – watching from the stands as United thrashed Chelsea 4-0 and Solskjaer was forced to admit that it will be a tall order to satisfy all of them.

Solskjaer said:”I do have too many centre-backs to keep everyone happy.

“But we need to win games, we need to perform, so we’re going to pick the players that will give us the biggest chance to win games.”

The situation is set to get even worse in January when Eric Bailly returns from a serious knee injury he sustained in pre-season.

The injury-plagued defender would appear to be a prime candidate to shipped out given the abundance of defenders but United are understood to be preparing a contract extension for the Ivorian international, whose current deal expires next summer.

Jones and Smalling were also reportedly the subject of deadline day loans out but Solskjaer appears keen to retain their services too.

Solskjaer added: “They’re all quality centre-backs and I know that we will need quite a few of them.

“Of course, Eric’s injury means that at the moment I’ve got six fit ones, which is maybe one too many to keep everyone involved.

“But then that’s our jobs, to make the most of what we have now, and for them as well to make sure every day in training.

“And when they get the chance, because they will – we’ve got loads of games, play well when you get it.

“All of these, Marcos, Phil, Chris – they’ve been here for a long time and they’ve proven that they can do it.”

Rojo was expected to leave this summer after playing just 211 minutes of Premier League football last season and could still negotiate a switch before the end of the European transfer window.

But the 29-year-old has been praised by his manager after featuring five times in pre-season.

Solskjaer said: “He’s [Rojo] had a very good pre-season. I think he’s getting closer and closer to the Argentina set-up as well, so let’s see what the future will bring.”