‘We have to develop all the time’ says Solskjaer as Man United beat Granada

  Manchester United's Marcus Rashford challenges for the ball with Granada's Maxime Gonalons during the Europa League, quarterfinal,...

 

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford challenges for the ball with Granada's Maxime Gonalons during the Europa League, quarterfinal, first leg soccer match between Granada and Manchester United at the Los Carmenes stadium in Granada, Spain. AP

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer called Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes exceptional after they scored to wrap up a 2-0 Europa League quarter-final first-leg win at Granada on Thursday.

Rashford became the fourth player from an English club to reach 20 goals in all competitions this season, after Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Fernandes.

Victor Lindelof's long ball was inch-perfect but Rashford's control with his first touch at full speed was sublime, leaving Granada's defence in his wake before netting past Rui Silva.

Fernandes put away his 19th penalty from his 20 spot kicks for United, which is a remarkable record given that he only joined the club in January last year.

Admittedly, this time he was fortunate as Silva got a strong hand to the ball.

"Rashford and Bruno Fernandes have been exceptional and are so important for us," Solskjaer told BT Sport.

"The first goal is a very good run and fantastic finish by Rashford.

"Bruno’s so comfortable from the penalty spot, even though the goalkeeper nearly saved it.

"We want to win every game. We’re still a young team, an improving team. We have to develop all the time.

"We always try to go forward and create chances. We feel good [about the second leg] at Old Trafford."

But United will be without club captain Harry Maguire, fellow defender Luke Shaw and midfielder Scott McTominay for the return leg next Thursday after all three were booked.

"It’s not a perfect night. We’ve got three suspensions for the next game but 2-0 is a very good result," Solskjaer added.

"We know it’s very difficult to get a result like this in Spain. I’m very happy."