Manchester United registered a 1-0 victory over Leicester City on Sunday and after the match, Ander Herrera was in the mixed zone talking to reporters.
The 29-year-old spoke to Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang and was asked if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can continue until the end of the season without losing a single Premier League match as Red Devils manager.
“It is impossible. The Premier League is so tough. [Manchester] City is a fantastic team, but they lost away to Newcastle the other day. I think it’s impossible to finish the rest of the season without losing in the Premier League. I wish, but I think it’s very difficult,” he said.
In December, the 20-time English champions appointed Solskjaer as the inter manager after parting ways with their former manager Jose Mourinho.
Since the Old Trafford favourite took charge, United have won nine of their 10 matches played in all competitions, while Burnley are the only club to stop Solskjaer’s side from clinching three points in the league.
Meanwhile, the former Athletic Club Bilbao man has made it clear he doesn’t want to draw comparisons between the current manager and Mourinho. He was annoyed recently, feeling comments had been twisted, and took to social media to make his point.
“Listen. I’m not going to make comparisons,” Herrera told VG. “Even when I try not to make comparisons, some journalists try to make it like I do. So I’m just going to talk about what’s happening now. Is that understood?
“I understand you’re asking the question. But I want you to make it clear that I am not comparing [with Mourinho].”
Loud and clear, Ander.
“We are very happy with him [Ole]. Everyone feels free. We are very good and compact and good at counterattack. I think Paul Pogba feels free because Nemanja Matic and me are in charge of defence. I think Marcus Rashford feels free, Jesse Lingard feels free, Alexis Sanchez feels free, Juan Mata moves everywhere.
“I think we play with great freedom. It’s one of the things Ole talks about every day. That’s all I can say. I’m just talking about now.”
Herrera then tapped the VG reporter on the shoulder and said: “No, but you know what I mean? Because if I say something, then everyone makes a big deal of it.”
The Basque midfielder was then asked if he feels like he’s got the manager’s confidence: “I just said it. I think Ole is very happy with the job I do. He gives me a lot of confidence. He knows I can help the team with and without the ball, to win it back as fast as possible. I think he knows I can do a job to make other players feel free. I really like that. I feel very good, but it doesn’t just apply to me. I think everyone feels good. The players coming in from the bench also contribute.”
