United's Cavani ready to face old club PSG despite FA probe

SHOWS: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (DECEMBER 1, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2020")

1. EDINSON CAVANI DURING RONDO DRILL

2. MANAGER OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER WATCHING TRAINING

3. CAVANI AMONG TEAM MATES DURING TRAINING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, ON CAVANI'S FA PROBE INTO A SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENT, SAYING:

"Yeah, of course we've communicated with Edinson and he's really deeply sorry for the mistake he's made. He's, there was no malicious intent at all. It was just an affectionate greeting to a friend of his and but, we explained to him. He's been asked by the FA to explain, so, of course, he'll cooperate with them and we'll support him because, I think its one of those unfortunate situations that he's just coming into the country and he's, in Uruguay its been used in a different affection that what we have. So, we'll support him, but, of course, we support the FA. It's important that the FA will, that they have asked him to explain and it's out there for everyone to see because we want to be in the fight against discrimination with everyone."

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, ON IF CAVANI WILL BE MENTALLY READY, SAYING:

"Yeah David (de Gea) trained well today, so, he's available for selection and Edinson he's ready to play. Of course, it's special for him to play against PSG. His own (old) club where he's the top scorer and, so, that will affect him mentally. But I think, or from knowing him, I know that'll give him energy and he'll be ready. He's so professional, experienced, of course, he'll work on his mindset today and tomorrow to be ready for the game, which the same goes to the FA. He'll, he's learnt a lesson and he'll have to, it might affect him but he'll just have to work, put it to one side when the game's on. You know, the best players, they can put the problems or the other thoughts away for a while and then perform when he has to."

7. WHITE FLASH

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, ON WHETHER HE THINKS FOREIGN PLAYERS SHOULD BE EDUCATED ON 'DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION' AS FORMER DEFENDER GARY NEVILLE RECENTLY SUGGESTED, SAYING:

"I think so, and I saw Gary said something on maybe all the players coming from different cultures should be educated and I'm sure Edinson learnt the hard way."

9. BRUNO FERNANDES (MIDDLE) DURING TRAINING

10. PAUL POGBA

11. FERNANDES AND MARCUS RASHFORD CHATTING

12. POGBA COMPLETING A DRILL BY PASSING THE BALL TO MASON GREENWOOD

13. FERNANDES COMPLETING A DRILL

STORY: Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Edinson Cavani is ready to face his former club Paris St Germain in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Wednesday despite the furore over his social media post.

Cavani is the subject of an FA investigation into an Instagram comment he made in response to a message of congratulations he received for his two-goal match-winning performance in Sunday's 3-2 Premier League victory at Southampton.

The Uruguayan said he was thanking a friend for the comment when he wrote in Spanish "Gracias negrito". He later deleted the comment and apologised. United said there was "no malicious intent" behind the post.

After his outstanding display at Southampton, Cavani is likely to lead the line for United against the French champions for whom he scored 200 goals to become their all-time top scorer before leaving in June.

"He is ready to play and of course it's special for him to play against PSG, his old club where he is the top scorer, so that will affect him mentally," Solskjaer told reporters on Tuesday (December 1).

"But from knowing him, that will give him energy. He is so professional. And he will work on his mindset today to get ready for the game," he said.

As to whether Cavani would be impacted by the fall-out from his social media post, Solskjaer said: "He has learned a lesson. It might affect him, but he will have to put that to one side when the game is on. The best players can put those things aside."

Solskjaer said he was sure the incident was the result of a misunderstanding.

"He's been asked by the FA to explain and we will support him. It's one of those unfortunate situations where he's just come into the country and in Uruguay it's been used in a different way," he said.

The Norwegian backed former United defender Gary Neville's suggestion that players coming to England from abroad should be given education on issues around "diversity and inclusion".

"We support him, but we also support the FA. We want to be in the fight against discrimination. I saw Gary (Neville) said something that maybe all the players coming in from other countries should be educated and I'm sure Edinson has learned the hard way," he added.

(Production: Stefan Haskins)