Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer has claimed Alexis Sanchez will “love it” if the Arsenal fans “turn against him” at Emirates Stadium on Friday night.
The Manchester United manager confirmed the former Gunners forward will play in the FA Cup fourth round clash as the two giants go head to head in the tie of the round.
Speaking at his media briefing on Thursday morning, as quoted by the Daily Mirror’s live blog (9.02am), Solskjaer said: “He’ll be involved. I think he’ll love it if the crowd turn against him.
“As a player, pride kicks in and you think ‘I’ll show all of you’. He’s been fantastic in training, his attitude has been spot on so hopefully he’ll enjoy the game.”
Solskjaer on Sanchez: "He’ll be involved. I think he’ll love it if the crowd turn against him.
"As a player, pride kicks in and you think ‘I’ll show all of you" https://t.co/xppXJrKJ5J
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) January 24, 2019
OPINION
The mind may be willing for Sanchez, but it appears the body no longer is. Sanchez has been a wretched signing for United and no amount of sugercoating can change the fact that he is nowhere near the player he once was. Arsenal fans remember the Chilean as their outstanding player of the last-decade, a one-man whirlwind with the heart of a lion and a never-say-die spirit who was consistently capable of game-changing and match-winning moments. At United, he has been a shadow of his former self, to the extent that he looks one of their worst signings of recent times, amid plenty of competition for that unwanted accolade. Sanchez hasn’t started a league match since 3 November due to injury and fitful form. The trip back to his old stomping ground may well temporarily reinvigorate him, but the growing evidence is that the 30-year-old has too many miles on the clock to make a major impact in a United shirt.