Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confident Man Utd winger Daniel James can handle rough treatment after Tottenham battle

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists Daniel James won’t be frightened off by Premier League bullies.

Mauricio Pochettino was forced to apologise after Moussa Sissoko tried to kick the Manchester United winger out of Thursday’s clash in Shanghai.

Sissoko was lucky to escape a red card after appearing to stamp on James in the first half.

Solskjaer refused to hit out at Tottenham’s players – but is confident his £15m summer signing can handle the rough treatment.

In Pictures | Tottenham vs Man Utd | 25/07/2019

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The United manager said: “Of course we want them to be looked after, but it’s a man sport. We can’t lose tackling in football as long as you tackle fairly.

“Dan is so quick and it’s not easy to time tackles against him. I can understand why players mistime tackles against him and he’s a brave little boy.

“He’s taken a few knocks over the tour, but as an old man I like to see tackles. There’s no rolling about, or diving or filming.

AFP/Getty Images

“If he stays down, he’s injured, but he gets up when he’s just hurt. There’s a difference between being hurt and injured.”

Pochettino was not happy about some of the excessive tackles from his Tottenham players – and quickly offered his apologies after United’s 2-1 win.

“I was a little bit annoyed about some situations, I was not happy,” he said. “It was a friendly game and in some situations of course when you are tired, when it’s so hot you are not right with the tempo to arrive at the actions, sometimes you arrive late and something can happen.

Manchester United via Getty Imag

“I apologise on behalf of our players to Manchester United, I think in the second-half they made it to us, but then it’s football.

“I was worried because in this period of preparation, sometimes you need to be aggressive and you need to play with passion, but sometimes the focus is to build your fitness and develop the way you want to play.”

Solskjaer responded: “It’s a competitive sport and we’re preparing for the league and that’s why we have referees.

“I thought it was very good preparation for getting ready for the league. No tippy-toe-y football - you went in to tackle.

“I have no qualms about some of the tackles. You worry, but we also gave, did not just receive. I thought it was a very good game.”

Eric Bailly’s knee injury, just nine minutes after coming on as a half time substitute, is a concern for United so soon after returning from the medial ligament damage he suffered at the end of last season.

Solskjaer added: “It’s never nice when you get an injury. He’s done his knee, but we’re not sure how bad it is.

“We need to get back to Manchester and do the scans, but let’s hope for the best.”

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