Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is determined to win a semi-final at the fifth attempt as his team prepare to face Roma in the Europa League last four, explaining that previous defeats have been analysed and there is now more belief in the squad than before.

United reached semi-finals of the EFL Cup, FA Cup and Europa League last season, losing to Manchester City, Chelsea and Sevilla respectively. They again lost to rivals City in the EFL Cup semis earlier this season and are hoping it will be fifth time lucky against Roma.

“We have looked at [previous semi-final defeats] and the reasons why, but every semi-final is a tough one against tough teams,” Solskjaer explained.

“Some defeats you dwell on a little bit more, but it is about putting things right and arriving in an almost fully fit squad. Now we are going to go all out. [We play against] Liverpool in between but that will take care of itself.”

United haven’t won a trophy since 2017 when they triumphed in this competition. Solskjaer drew criticism recently when he suggested that the club’s progress under his leadership so far isn’t measured by trophies, but there is no denying that he desperate to win one.

“It will be a dream come true the day I can lift a trophy for this club as a manager,” he said.

“That is what we’re building for. It is ifs and buts, but our ambition is to finish this season with a trophy and to celebrate. I know what that can mean for the group.”

Solskjaer also took the opportunity to clarify comments he made about Roma immediately after the quarter-final win over Granada, when he admitted he hadn’t seen much of the next opponents. His words have sparked fury in the Italian capital, with angry Roma fans creating posters that read ‘make sure he remembers us’ alongside a picture of the Norwegian’s face.

Solskjaer insists that United have since fully analysed Roma and that he meant no disrespect.

? Roma fans have put up posters of Solskjær, quoting „I don’t know them and I haven’t seen them play.”

Roma fans feel that Solskjær and #mufc are „dismissing“ them as an opponent. [La Roma24 via @Sport_Witness]

The bottom of the poster reads „make sure he remembers us.“ pic.twitter.com/dCtLWUzJM9

— UtdDistrict ? (@UtdDistrict) April 27, 2021

“That was straight after the [Granada] game,” he said. “I was just relieved we had gone through. I had watched [Roma] but not analysed in depth to give them enough respect.

„[It is] a fantastic club. I have a [Francesco] Totti shirt and a [Daniele] De Rossi shirt I swapped with them. We have analysed them since. We are ready for them. It was not meant as any disrespect.“

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