Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tells Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford to make sure they concentrate on football
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OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has told Jesse Lingard to make sure he concentrates on doing his day job.
And Marcus Rashford has been given the same advice.
The Manchester United boss has been backed up by No2 Mike Phelan as the pair keep working on improving the spirit in their dressing room.
Solskjaer and Phelan are understood to had separate discussions with attacker Lingard who last Christmas launched his own “Be Yourself” fashion label.
It forms part of the 26 year old’s JLINGZ brand which also peddles aftershave and iPhone cases.
The Old Trafford management team are concerned that Lingard is not fully focused on making himself a better player.
And that his close pal Rashford is also in danger of being side – tracked when he should be concentrating on making himself United’s No1 striker.
Lingard launched his clothes line last December, a week before his side were going to Anfield.
Before the 3 – 1 defeat which turned out to be Jose Mourinho’s last game in charge ex – Old Trafford skipper Roy Keane savaged Lingard over the launch.
He declared : “If there was a good strong dressing room that wouldn’t be tolerated. That’s why I worry about the United dressing room.
“That wouldn’t be tolerated in a good dressing room from a young player, who’s still learning his trade.
“Again, he could be the nicest kid in the world, I don’t know the lad, but if you’re coming out with all that nonsense...”
Former team mate Gary Neville, alongside Keane as a Sky Sports pundit before the defeat, stressed : “I’ve got no problem with him launching a clothes range.
“But before Liverpool away - the biggest match of the season - don’t launch a clothes brand. “Not this week.
“Concentrate on Liverpool, no distractions, no disruptions.”
Ironically Lingard scored in December 16 loss but going into yesterday’s clash with Leicester City hadn’t hit the net for United in four games this season.
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Rashford scored 2 in the opening – day 4 – 0 win over Chelsea but his form has been disappointing since.
There were no goals in his next three games and he did not score in England’s 4 – 0 European Championship walkover against Bulgaria.
Since replacing Mourinho, Solskjaer has battled hard to spark up the United dressing room that had split into various factions.
Early this month he is understood to have raged at his players following a 1 – 1 draw at Southampton, calling them “a joke” as he lost his cool
He and Phelan are now trying to lay down the law not only to Lingard and Rashford but the whole group in a new bid to induce team spirit and unity in a season that is liable to make or break the manager’s career as United boss.