Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals frank team talk after Milan first leg mistake

‘When you have a setback like we had against Milan in the last minute, we had a big... not row, but we had a little bit of a meeting’

Manchester United’s Scott McTominay and Dean Henderson (Manchester United via Getty Images)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that a frank team discussion after Simon Kjaer's first leg equaliser for Milan inspired Manchester United to turn the tie around and keep their sixth clean sheet in seven games.

Kjaer's 92nd-minute header at Old Trafford gave Milan the upper hand going into Thursday's second leg at San Siro, but Paul Pogba's second-half goal and defensive heroics from Victor Lindelof and goalkeeper Dean Henderson saw Solskjaer's side progress.

Henderson came in for criticism for his part in Kjaer's equaliser and Solskjaer joked on Thursday that the United goalkeeper could have done better, but was delighted with his second leg display and especially a crucial save from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Lindelof, meanwhile, has also come under scrutiny in recent months, with speculation constantly linking United to a new centre-back signing but Solskjaer described his confidence in his defence as "sky high".

The United manager added: "We're used to speculation and every goal you concede at Man United is going to be scrutinised. That's the way it is.

"I know these boys have become so much stronger mentally to deal with these things.

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"We work on things, when you have a setback like we had against Milan in the last minute, we had a big... not row, but we had a little bit of a meeting.

"You saw against West Ham and you saw tonight there was no chance we were going to let any goals in.

"They're proud defenders and even though they can play football and play out from the back and all this, when you see defenders wanting to defend things you're pleased.

"Of course Zlatan had a good chance but he's a physical monster. You can't protect yourself against everything in football but they're trying as well as they can."

On Henderson specifically, Solskjaer said: "It's a save he should have made last week. Very similar. Very pleased for him, of course. Great save.

"The team is always giving us everything. It starts from the front with the pressing front four really high energy pressing, the back six and keeper, we know what they can do.

“I’m very happy with the defensive foundation, that gives you the platform to go and win games."