So lightning does strike twice. And it was once again Marcus Rashford, again with a late winner, that broke PSG’s hearts. In truth, not many United fans anticipated this result. For a start United are still a team in progress, with a number of new signings yet to play. Moreover following the 2018 victory over the French Champions, that had put United into the quarter finals, on the same ground, we could not be blamed for assuming that PSG – continuing to spend millions to arrive at their dream goal of winning the Champions League- would be exacting revenge. In the end it was only due to (another) own goal that PSG managed to find the United net. This defeat was PSG’s first home defeat in the Champions League group stages since 2004.
My United Man of the Match has to be David De Gea. He certainly repaid the manager’s faith in him by making stunning stops, notably the great saves from Mbappe, Kurzawa and Di Maria. Worth noting the Spaniard’s best moment early into the second-half when he made that brilliant diving save to keep Kylian Mbappe off the score sheet. He cannot be faulted on Martial’s own goal. In all he faced six serious shots in the match and made superb saves on five of them, an 83 % success rate.
This may only have been an opening group game rather than a knock-out, but Solskjaer has his second famous night in Paris. So a richly deserved three points. Chelsea next up this Saturday, and then United meet semi-finalists RB Leipzig, due to visit Old Trafford next week.
Article contributed by Contributor Kenneth. Comments are appreciated on our Facebook page.