Ole Gunnar Solskjaer talks up Manchester United title challenge amid improving form

United are six points off the top with a game in hand

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United can still mount a title challenge this season after recovering from a difficult start to the campaign.

United's 3-2 comeback victory away to Southampton at the weekend was their third win on the bounce and left them six points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand.

Their recent form has been a far cry from the performances which saw them win just two and lose three of their opening six games but Solskjaer believes they are on the road to recovery.

"You lose the chance to win the title in the first 8-10 games if you don’t keep up with the pack that starts winning but you don’t win it in the first 8-10 games," he said. 

"We’ve recuperated. We’ve started on a little run so we’re just behind the top teams at the moment but we want to be in and around the places when the league starts to hot up in April and May.  

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"Hopefully we can be there. Now is just a time to improve and develop, take one game at a time."

United return to Champions League action on Wednesday night, with Paris Saint-Germain visiting Old Trafford and Solskjaer's side requiring just a point to progress from Group H.

"Our mindset is now on the Champions League and if we can go through with one game to spare would be great, but we want to win the group now," he said.

The Norwegian added that he feels his squad is now equipped with the quality he needs to build on last season's third-place finish, when United were 33 points off champions Liverpool.

"You can give players the belief, we can talk as much as we like because I believe in these players," he said. "It’s the belief in them themselves and their performances, what we do day in, day out.  

"Of course I feel my squad is ready to do better than last season and last we were the best of the rest so let’s hope we can move up the table."