Ole Gunnar Solskjaer criticized England’s use of Mason Greenwood after a Manchester United teenager was brought home from international duty for violating coronavirus protocols.
Greenwood and fellow international Phil Foden were disqualified by manager Gareth Southgate halfway through the Nations League camp to connect with two women at the national team hotel in Reykjavik.
Solshire felt that Greenwood should not have been named in the Southgate squad shortly after the end of the 2019-20 season with United, who were knocked out in the Europa League semi-finals less than 10 days before Greenwood was called up.
The United manager was also unhappy with Greenwood being selected for a media assignment while he was outside England.
The 18-year-old was chosen to answer questions from a camp press conference, as often happened with calls for the first time during the Southgate reign.
Of course I spoke to Mason and I spoke to Mason. When asked about Greenwood’s neglect, Solskjaer said, “What we talk about and discuss will be between us.”
“The kid had a great season, he just succeeded, I worked and the club worked and all the staff here also worked hard, when Mason gave us enough time on the field, when we gave him a chance in the media.
“Then I got to the end of the season and we had less than two weeks and he was called up for the national team.
“I have to be frank enough to say I did my best to give him a rest during the summer, at the club we specifically asked him and indicated that he should have taken a rest.
“He needs it mentally and physically after that season he fought and the first thing that happens is one, he’s called up and two, right there in the press.
“We did everything in our power to protect him and I will continue to help him. I know when he gets back into the daily routine of the club and what we do with it he will be fine.”
Solshire said that despite training himself for breaching Covid-19 protocols, Greenwood was available for selection ahead of the Premier League’s opening game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
“He is part of the group. Through testing protocols and the COVID virus, he trained himself for a brief period, and as soon as possible he became a large part of this group.
“This is where we feel at home, uncomfortable. We challenge him, we have people to take care of him. We had a plan with him throughout the season and it really worked.”
“But he needed a rest. I look at [press conference] And he talks about looking at this season when it ends and is the first day of the new season. He is an 18-year-old who needs management. “
