Manchester United 0-2 Cardiff: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer outlines targets for next season after woeful finish

Manchester United 0-2 Cardiff: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer outlines targets for next season after woeful finish
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Manchester United have ‘hit a brick wall’ in recent weeks as a dreadful campaign ended in fitting fashion with a defeat to relegated Cardiff.Nathaniel Mendez-Laing netted in both halves – the first from the penalty spot – as the Bluebirds snatched a shock 2-0 victory at Old Trafford, extending United’s winless run to six matches in all competitions.GETTY2

It was another tough afternoon for Solskjaer

They end the season in sixth, a whopping 32 points behind Premier League champions Manchester City, and Solskjaer is aware that bridging that gap will prove a sizeable hurdle.He said: “We have been poor. We’ve more or less hit a brick wall towards the end of the season so that’s very disappointing.“We were in with a shout (of the top four) but the last two games, of course, we’ve let ourselves down performance-wise.“We should have won against two relegated teams (United drew 1-1 at Huddersfield last week) but that’s another reality check for everyone. “This league is a tough one, no matter who you play, and it’s a long season and towards the end we’ve performed under par.“The big plus is the season’s over so we put a big line over it and look forward. We know we are too far behind where we want to be, that’s the 98 and 97 points – that’s exceptional from the two teams (City and Liverpool).“We are five or six points behind third, fourth and fifth, that’s realistically who we need to challenge for next year.“The players have been going through a tough period, good players who towards the end of the season are fatigued mentally and physically.”2

Paul Pogba was visibly disappointed at full-time

Solskjaer, whose side could start their 2019-20 campaign in the Europa League towards the end of July depending on the outcome of the FA Cup final, has already set his sights on a top-four spot and a domestic trophy next term.He added: “We’re used to challenging for the Premier League and that’s not going to be sorted quickly.“Realistically you’re not going to catch however many points – we’re 32 points behind the top teams.“We’ve got to realistically challenge for the top four and another trophy.“Last time we were in the Europa League with Jose (Mourinho) and loads of these players, we won it. The FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, they’re trophies we’ve got to start the season aiming to win.”

---

'It's been epic': Ireland striker Jonathan Walters announces retirement from football aged 35 The forward scored 14 goals in 54 international appearances for Ireland.

---

Transfer news and football gossip: Liverpool tracking

---

Tomorrow's games include league leaders Manchester City at Swansea, Liverpool at home to West Brom and West Ham hosting Arsenal. So with the upcoming fixtures in mind, who should you be looking at bringing into your Fantasy Premier League team? We've suggested five players worth getting, five you should avoid, and the ideal captain for the
Preview: Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 38 - Last Word on

---

Chelsea transfer news: Tiemoue Bakayoko says he wants to stay at AC Milan rather than return to Stamford Bridge The French midfielder is currently on loan at the San Siro following a dreadful
Tiemoue Bakayoko admits it's his 'dream' to stay at AC Milan

---

Chelsea are facing a race against time to complete a loan deal for Gonzalo Higuain so the striker can make his debut in Thursday's Carabao Cup semi-final clash against bitter rivals Tottenham.
Chelsea face race against time for Higuain to be available

---

Gossip A round-up of the best transfer stories on Sunday morning The best transfer rumours on Sunday morning. If David de Gea does not sign a contract extension at Manchester United, then the club will make a £60m bid for Everton's Jordan Pickford.
Liverpool news: Juventus challenge AC Milan for Fabinho as

---

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hattrickas Juventus eliminated Atletico Madrid from the Champions League. In the process, Ronaldo also equalled Lionel Messi's Champions League hattricks' record.

---

Tottenham vs Liverpool LIVEUefa Champions League Final 2018-19 Venue: Latest score and commentary stream. Can't see the Tottenham vs Liverpool LIVE, Champions League Final 2019 blog?
Tottenham vs Liverpool final: TV channel, live stream FREE

---

Jose Mourinho has followed David Moyes and Louis van Gaal in failing to become Manchester United's long-term successor for Sir Alex Ferguson. The club announced the Portuguese has lost his job after two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho sacked: How does ex-Man Utd boss's record

---

Macclesfield Town 2-0 Crawley Town: Sol Campbell gets first

---

Harry Redknapp believes England's Declan Rice will captain West Ham after Mark Noble (Pic: GETTY) "I do think down the line he would become a regular in the England team" Harry Redknapp. On whether Rice is starting material yet, Redknapp told Starsport: "Not at the moment no.
West Ham captain Mark Noble defends Declan Rice from England

---

Spurs lead the tie by three goals after Son Heung-Min, Jan Vertonghen and Fernando Llorente scored at Wembley last month. Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 in the first-leg Borussia Dortmund V Tottenham: Team news and line-ups. Tottenham will be without Dele Alli and Kieran Trippier for their trip to Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmund 0 Tottenham 0 live on talkSPORT: Free

---