Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his players have ‘no excuses’ going into a Manchester derby in the Carabao Cup after losing three semi-finals last season.
It included defeat to Manchester City at the same stage of this competition after Manchester United were blown away 3-1 in the first leg at Old Trafford before going out on aggregate after a 1-0 win at the Etihad.
United also lost in the semi-finals of the FA Cup to Chelsea and Europa League to Sevilla as they failed to pick up their first piece of silverware under Solskjaer.
Wednesday’s semi at Old Trafford is a one-legged affair and the United manager believes that his team is better prepared for the challenge this time around.
‘It's always a good question, how important is this game, and then I can answer – very!’ said Solskjaer. ‘The semi-final is a chance to get to the final and for this team getting our hands on a trophy would be a very big step.
‘We’ve developed a lot in the last 12 months since the last semi in the Carabao Cup. It’s not just learning to win semis, we've also earned the right to feel we can go all the way with our performances.
‘We’re confident and going into the game in good form – there are no excuses.
‘You play football to win and to get your hands on trophies. It gives you the hunger to get more.’