PARIS • Manchester United travelled to Paris yesterday without 10 first-team players and facing a two-goal deficit, but the odds are not insurmountable for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whose players "feel invincible".
The Red Devils will be boosted for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie by the presence of former manager Alex Ferguson, who was on the same team plane, with Solskjaer's men seeking to invoke the spirit of their European Cup-winning campaign in 1999 against Paris-Saint Germain today.
Such is the squad's self-belief after a run of 12 wins in 15 games in all competitions since the Norwegian took over on an interim basis in December, and they now "feel that every game we are in with a chance to win".
And, after a club-record eight straight away victories, the caretaker boss believes his short-handed team, who will also be without the suspended Paul Pogba, are "not going to go out without giving a fight".
In an interview posted on the club's website, he said: "We can't write games off, we've been fantastic away from home.
"We're going to go out there and enjoy the game. We know it's (Parc des Princes) a difficult place to come and they played really well at Old Trafford, so it's a great challenge for our players to go out there and show what they can do.
"They go into away games now knowing that we can defend well and we've got pace on the counter. They've been very confident away from home so hopefully, we can take that to Paris because we have to - we're playing against top, top players."
NOT SITTING BACK
We'd rather win 4-2 than try to get a 2-0. We've got to get to half-time better off than we are now. If you can get to 1-0 at half-time, then anything can happen in the second half.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, Manchester United interim manager, hinting that his team will attack from the start.
PLAYING WITHOUT FEAR
With the injuries we've got, the position we're in, going to Paris is a tough place to go... but the really impressive performances have been away from home. The players they've got are suited to playing away from home.
RYAN GIGGS, United legend and Wales manager, on his former team having what it takes to beat PSG today.
Pinpointing his aim to at least pull back a goal in the first half, Solskjaer added: "We'd rather win 4-2 than try to get a 2-0. We've got to get to half-time better off than we are now. If you can get to 1-0 at half-time, then anything can happen in the second half.
"They are confident going into the game, even knowing that we are 2-0 down... we have got loads of injuries, but there's a few boys here that will want to be part of it.
"Certainly, for our players, they know what we are capable of and we have spoken about it. They know that they are part of a special club that can do something like this.
"We have got to go for it. We have a mountain to climb, but we have quality players."
While United have been forced to bring along five academy players after a growing casualty list including Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Anthony Martial, Phil Jones and Alexis Sanchez, club great Ryan Giggs thinks a comeback win is "not impossible".
Speaking at a Champions League trophy tour event in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Wales manager backed calls for Solskjaer to take the reins on a full-time basis, saying: "I can't see anyone past Ole at the moment. The record they've had in the league has been phenomenal.
"It's a tough league and to put together the run that he's done, it's impressive.
"With the injuries we've got, the position we're in, going to Paris is a tough place to go... but the really impressive performances have been away from home.
"The players they've got are suited to playing away from home."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
PSG V MAN UNITED
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 3.55am
JUST IN: Dembele takes part in full training ahead of United clash Viktoria Myznikova 1 month ago Sport 25 Comments Ousmane Dembele has trained with the team on Monday without experiencing any problems.
Football: Lionel Messi shines as Barcelona survive scare to see off Rayo and retain 7-point lead over Atletico
Football: Messi shines as Barca survive scare to see off Rayo
UEFA Champions League: Liverpool's Dejan Lovren unlikely to face Bayern Munich, says Jurgen Klopp Dejan Lovren is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained against Wolverhampton Wanderers last month and the Croatia defender did not travel with the rest of the squad to the club's warm-weather training camp in Marbella this week.
Champions League: Liverpool's Lovren unlikely to face Bayern
Pep Guardiola is confident his achievements at Manchester City will not be tarnished by UEFA's investigation into alleged Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches and trusted the club to resolve the matter, the Spanish manager said on Friday.
Guardiola trusts Man City to resolve FFP allegations
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on track to return to training next month, reports say. Liverpool lost Oxlade-Chamberlain late last season, after he suffered knee ligament damage against Roma in the
Jurgen Klopp says Alex Oxlade Chamberlain could return to
Football: Scottish title-chasing Rangers sign Jermain Defoe on loan from Bournemouth Rangers, managed by former England midfielder Steven Gerrard, signed former England striker Jermain Defoe in a
Jermain Defoe: Rangers set to sign Bournemouth striker, 36
Rakitic: Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona. "Whenever our captain says something the rest of us follow," said Rakitic at a press conference on Tuesday. Rakitic believes Barcelona's
Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic - News
Luis Enrique hails solid defensive display against Real Sociedad. FC Barcelona manager delighted with attitude and intensity shown by his team as they take a huge step towards qualification for
Barcelona beat United 1-0 in an unspectacular but solid display
NEWCASTLE: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer joined Matt Busby in the Manchester United record books on Wednesday as his inspirational decision to bring on Romelu Lukaku as a substitute paid immediate
Football: Solskjaer extends perfect record as Man United beat
Elliot May, 14, has this message on the placard he has been holding up for close to three hours as he ambles round the city centre in Madrid. This wasn't how the young Liverpool fan pictured the Champions League final when he and his father, Teddy, floated the idea of a trip to Spain. Teddy, though, is upbeat.
WOLFSBURG (Germany): Germany's new-look team made a promising return to the international stage with a 1-1 draw against Serbia in a friendly on Wednesday, showing signs of improvement following a
New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia draw
Football: Kante strike the difference as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 (REUTERS) - Chelsea kept up their pursuit of the Premier League's top three clubs with a 1-0 win away to London rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday (Dec 30), thanks to a strike by N'Golo Kante early in the second half.
N'Golo Kante scores as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace
Only 6 days later, the new stadium will also host its first European game, when Manchester City visits Tottenham in the first leg of Champions League quarterfinals. But there is one thing that could potentially set back the grand opening of the new stadium (once again).
Tottenham's new stadium: All you need to know about Spurs
CRISTIANO RONALDO is set to face Manchester United this summer after being kept away from a tournament in America over fears he will be detained in a rape probe. ICC TOURNAMENT . The majority
ICC news: Ronaldo skips ICC, Barca bring Messi, Suarez
0 comments:
Post a Comment