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Manchester United defender Phil Jones warns team-mates they have not achieved anything under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer yet

Solskjaer became only the second United manager in the club’s history to win all five of his first five games in charge

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Monday 07 January 2019 13:06 GMT
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Phil Jones has warned his Manchester United team-mates that they have not achieved anything yet despite the progress made under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Solskjaer became only the second United manager in the club’s history to win all five of his first five games in charge, emulating Sir Matt Busby’s start to the 1946-47 campaign.

The Norwegian has helped cut the gap between United and the Premier League’s top four from 11 points to six in the space of only four games.

If Solskjaer can mastermind a victory away to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, United’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League will receive another boost.

Jones, however, does not believe he and his team-mates can take their good form for granted and claimed United still have much work to do to revive their season.

“Spurs is a good test,” he said. “We are in good form and have some momentum going. We have steadied the ship a bit if you like and we need to keep going.

“We have not done anything yet, we have not achieved anything but we need to keep it going.

“Possibly Spurs will be an indicator for us and how far we can go but it is a game we need to win,” Jones added.

“They are in good form and doing well and we need to have a good week, train well and prepare for a tough game. Hopefully the momentum can carry us on to win that match.”

Solskjaer has stopped short of describing a top-four finish as the target for United this season and instead prioritised an improvement in performances.

Jones admitted that qualifying for next season’s Champions League is United’s “aim”, though at the same time was reluctant to look too far ahead.

Solskjaer has won his first five games in charge (AFP/Getty)

“Of course we should be in the Champions League next season and that is the aim but we have done nothing yet and I know it is a cliche but it has to be game-by-game,” he said.

“I don’t really want to think about the top four, or the Champions League or the FA Cup, it has to be game-by-game. Tottenham is tough and we need to see where we are after that."

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