Sheffield United: 'The Blades taught my players a lesson,' admits Manchester United manager

Solskjær, the Manchester United manager, made the confession after watching Chris Wilder's side secure a last minute draw having deservedly led 2-0 with less than 20 minutes remaining.

With Brandon Williams, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford cancelling out earlier efforts by John Fleck and Lys Mousset, Oli McBurnie ensured United took something from a match, barring a seven minute spell midway through the second-half, from start to finish.

Despite attempting to paint the visitors' performance in a positive light - "We showed character to come back" - Solskjær said: "We had to change, second-half, we had to go for it. I could have changed 10 players at half-time, barring the goalkeeper, because David de Gea kept us in it. You have to earn the right to win a game of football and, for 71 minutes, we didn't earn that right. It wasn't about tactivs. It was about desire, winning challenges. Sometimes tactics are thrown out of the window."

Given the gulf in resources and stature between the two clubs, United manager Chris Wilder and his squad can take great heart from the Norwegian's insistence that, after watching three youngsters haul the former European champions back into the game, competing at Bramall Lane will prove an invaluable experience.

"You don't play these games in the academy," Solskjær added. "You don't get involved in challenges like that. So they will have learned a lot, without a doubt, from that.

"We brought young players on. They made a good impact. The boys will have learned a lesson, from the first 70 minutes and the 91st when they scored."