Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had his first say on his side’s first game of the season against Leeds on Saturday.
The Whites travel to Old Trafford looking to avenge their humbling 6-2 defeat at the hands of their great rivals at the same venue last season.
While Solskjaer’s side will go into the game as favourites, the Norwegian manager admits his side are disadvantaged ahead of the opener due to fitness worries.
Speaking to the MEN, he said: “Sancho and Varane still haven’t trained with us and I need to see how they are. Hopefully they will be ready to be on the bench against Leeds.
“We’ve not got everyone back yet and we’re still lacking a few. Every year that there’s a championship it’s difficult. Luke [Shaw], Harry [Maguire], Fred – a few – only have the Everton [pre-season] game to prepare.
“It’s still not perfect because I think teams with fewer players in tournaments do have an advantage early on but we’re as ready as we can be.
“Fred played nine games over the summer and he’s had three weeks away from us and then two weeks to get ready again, so they should be ready.”
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds are known for their high intensity and high press, something Solskjaer’s team struggled with in last season’s return fixture at Elland Road as the sides drew 0-0.
Adding to his previous comments after the 4-0 pre-season victory over Everton, Solskjaer said: “Every team in the league throws you a different challenge so today was about intensity but of course going home with four goals, some of them very good, of course that gives us confidence.
“It’s a big week. It’s got to be some words of course specific to Leeds but we need some more fitness.”
