Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is on the verge of his first final as Manchester United boss, but the 1999 treble winner isn't about to relax, claiming there have been "bigger upsets" than the one Roma needs in the Europa League.
After losing in four consecutive semi-finals in the last two seasons, the Red Devils look poised to make it five in a row after a 6-2 first-leg thrashing of the Giallorossi at an empty Old Trafford last Thursday.
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United is the first team to score six goals in a European semi-final since 1964, and they are overwhelming favorites to win the Gdansk showpiece on May 26, but Solskjaer is not taking it for granted.
“It's heading into the game, hoping to win the game, playing a decent game of football, approaching it (right),” he said ahead of Thursday's second leg in Rome.
“As a community, we need to develop and change. We realize we're not even at the point that we should head into a game and expect to win based on the outcome.
“We're not going to bet on the outcome. We're going to act like we're going to win the game.
“That is the only way I believe we can view these games in order to build, explore, and challenge ourselves.
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“Of necessity, there might be one or two shifts in the list due to the upcoming tournaments, but we need to get into a final.
“Everyone thinks it's over. It's not that I've seen bigger upsets.
“Roma has been a part of major upsets; they just defeated Barcelona despite falling behind 4-1.”
United enters the game well-rested, having had their Premier League match against Liverpool called off on Sunday owing to an anti-Glazer rally at Old Trafford.
Daniel James was not added to the squad for that game and is not among the 24 players traveling to Italy.
Wales international Solskjaer claims he is "only away for a little bit," joining Phil Jones and Anthony Martial on the sidelines.
The latter was supposed to miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee while on international duty with France in March, but he could still play in the Europa League final in Poland.
“Anthony is looking good,” Solskjaer said to the club's media. “He has just begun outside jogging, which is, of course, the first phase in his rehabilitation.
“He's doing the most of the training in the gym, but seeing him out there enjoying some new air is encouraging, and maybe we'll see him until the season is over.”
“He's helping the squad, he wants to be a part of the final, and he's training hard to be ready until that.”
Edinson Cavani's return to fitness has compensated for Martial's absence, with the 34-year-old scoring twice in a man-of-the-match performance against Roma last week.
Solskjaer has been seeking to convince the veteran to remain until the end of the season, and sources say the Uruguay international has agreed to return for another season.
“We've had some nice talks recently, and even though the decision is still in his hands, I'm still hopeful,” he said.
“Perhaps more so when you see him on Thursday against Roma and then speak to him after the game about how when you do that in front of a massive Stretford End, that's different, that's magic. Yes, I'm always hopeful.”
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