Greenwood should not have been called up by England, says Solskjaer
Mason Greenwood's maiden England call-up ended in him being sent home for breaking COVID-19 protocol along with Man City's Phil Foden.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claims England boss Gareth Southgate went against his wishes by calling up Mason Greenwood after the teenager's maiden senior international experience ended in disgrace.
Greenwood, 18, was selected for the Three Lions squad to face Iceland and Denmark in the Nations League at the start of this month.
Sent home for breaching Covid protocols
He made his debut from the bench as England won the former game 1-0 but was then sent home along with Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden after the duo breached strict coronavirus protocols by entertaining women at the team hotel.
Speaking ahead of United's first Premier League game of the 2020-21 season at home to Crystal Palace, Solskjaer questioned England's approach to Greenwood's welfare and suggested he needed a mental break after the rigours of a superb breakthrough campaign, which continued deep into August as United reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.
"Yeah, of course I've spoken to Mason," Solskjaer said. "What we speak about and discuss will be between the two of us.
"The kid had a fantastic season, he's just come through. I've worked and the club has worked and all the staff here have worked really hard - when we gave Mason enough time on the pitch, when we gave him exposure in the media.
National team call up
"Then you come to the end of the season and we've had less than two weeks off and he's called up to the national team."
Solskjaer seemed to take particular exception to Greenwood being assigned media conference duties ahead of his England debut.
"I have to be honest enough to say I tried my best to give him a rest over the summer, at the club we asked specifically and pointed out he should have had a rest," he added.
"He needs it mentally and physically after that season he had and the first thing that happens is one, he's called up and two, he's right there in the press.
Protecting his players
"We've done whatever we can to protect him and I will keep on helping him. I know when he comes back into the daily routine of the club and what we do to him he'll be fine."
Greenwood scored 17 goals in all competitions last season, matching the best return for a teenager in United colours - a distinction he now shares with club greats George Best, Brian Kidd and Wayne Rooney.
