No romance in Paris for Ole
To say United are up against it in Paris would be an understatement.
No answer to PSG
Man United were brought back down to earth when PSG defeated them last month. The dramatic upturn in United’s domestic form since the required managerial change was made at Old Trafford caused us all to get carried away and forget that PSG are actually a decent football team.
To label them ‘decent’ would be doing them a disservice of course. Les Parisiens did a job on United three weeks ago and demonstrated their nous and experience of this competition.
Tuchel’s gameplan which allowed for PSG’s quality to eventually show through at the same time United run out of ideas, worked a treat. You could say they were unfortunate not to leave with more of a significant advantage such was their dominance in the second half.
Nous and experience
The two-nil success was more impressive given the absence of two thirds of their usual star-studded frontline. The injuries to Neymar and Edison Cavani were viewed as a potential leveller prior to kick off, not that anybody told Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria.
In inspired form against his former employers, the latter was the architect of both goals including a decisive second scored by the man with the world at his feet, Mbappe. Any concern that Tuchel’s side may struggle with the injuries suffered have been eased by the potency of the 20 year-old World Cup winner in particular.
The weekend saw him warm up for the second leg with a match-winning brace, his 27th and 28th goals of the season. The stage will once again be his with Neymar still sidelined and Cavani only set to make the bench if deemed fit.
Ole’s at the wheel but United out of juice
You’ve got to admire the optimism of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the positivity of the man shows no sign of fading. But as United discovered in the first leg, there’s only so far enthusiasm can take you.
That’s not stopped the Norwegian from building up his side’s chances of turning the tie on its head though. Admittedly, United have responded well to their first defeat under Solskjær having progressed to the last eight of the FA Cup, held Liverpool and scored 3 goals in successive games against Crystal Palace and Southampton, including a last minute ‘Fergie time’s winner at the weekend. It’s like the good old days again!
The caretaker boss has even challenged his side to draw on one of United’s most famous European nights for inspiration, comparing his side’s current predicament to that faced twenty years ago in Turin, the year Solskjær helped United to an unprecedented treble of course.
An impossible ask
It’s a smart move from the United legend that could help create a siege mentality for the visitors midst an injury crisis. Such is the extent of the players unavailable however, it’s difficult to see United being able to cope with the third favourites to win the entire tournament.
The visitors to the Le Parc des Princes will be without the first choice midfield trio of Matic, Herrera and Pogba, the latter suspended for his late dismissal in the first leg, while Martial, Mata, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia and Lingard will be joined on the sidelines by Alexis Sanchez.
Even with a full quota, a monumental effort would’ve been required for United to overcome the first leg deficit. As understrength as they are, it’s almost an impossible ask.
Match betting tip
A patched-up Man. United may have had enough in the tank to see off Southampton at the weekend but I’m not expecting them to run out victors in Paris.
The inexperience of McTominay and Pereira in central midfield is likely to tell up against the heavyweights of Marquinhos and Verratti, a factor I expect to contribute towards a comfortable PSG victory.
