Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that he is expecting an upset in the second leg of the Champions League encounter against Paris Saint-Germain in the Parc Des Princes on Wednesday night. The English giants will travel to the home of the Ligue 1 champions and look to overturn a 2-0 deficit that the Parisians gained at Old Trafford last month.
It’s quite an optimistic time to be a Manchester United fan at the moment as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is spinning the wheel for the Red Devils. The change in fortunes has been quite immense since the Norwegian took over the reins from Jose Mourinho in December.
The Message Sent Out By Solskjaer Prior To This Crucial Clash For Manchester United
Mourinho was in a self-destruct mode with Manchester United as the Portuguese manager instilled his defensive style of philosophy due to his stubbornness. The results were not coming United’s way either and with bland football and nothing to show for in attack, the writing was on the wall for the ‘Special One’.
Fierce Premier League rivals Liverpool hammered the final nail in Mourinho’s coffin as Manchester United boss and the Red half of Manchester decided to part ways with the 56-year-old growing tired of his antics.
Solskjaer has brought those smiles back at Old Trafford after the 46-year-old was appointed as the caretaker of the English giants at least until the end of the season. The ex-United forward has had a great record as manager of Manchester United losing just one game in 16 across all competitions but his only defeat came against PSG in the Champions League.
Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Presnel Kimpembe earned the Ligue 1 winners a crucial 2-0 lead at Old Trafford and United now have an uphill task against one of the favourites to win the competition. The Red Devils will make the trip to the French capital with almost 10 absentees but Solskjaer still hopes for a miracle.
The Latest Updates Coming In About The Red Devils’ Squad
Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Matteo Darmian, Alexis Sanchez and Phil Jones have all missed recent games. That is due to injury. World Cup-winning midfielder Paul Pogba will miss the game due to suspension.
United completed a stunning comeback against Southampton in the Premier League during the weekend. It showed the grit and passion that Solskjaer has now implemented in this side. But despite all the odds against United, Solskjaer is expecting a miracle from his team at the Parc Des Princes.
While speaking to reporters ahead of the crunch Champions League clash, Solskjaer said, “I have to say, they are confident going into the game. That is knowing that we are 2-0 down. We know it is going to be difficult. Played them here and they are a good team. We have got loads of injuries, there are a few boys here that will want to be part of it. Got to go for it. We have a mountain to climb. Have quality players. Let us see how many we have got, though. That maybe is the biggest thing.”
Solskjaer also explained a way that United can overcome the deficit, “It was 1-1 at home. They scored two to go 2-0 up in the ten minutes. Suddenly you think you are out. But as soon as you get that one goal away from home we were in the ascendancy. Then when we got to 2-2 suddenly we were through. They had to panic, so that is it for us. We have to get goals in that game. If we get an early one, then suddenly we are in with a shout.”
It is not going to be an easy match by any stretch of the imagination. The team from England will have to fight hard to go through to the next round. That is with around ten of their players unavailable for this fixture. Let’s see what happens now.
