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Manchester United face an uphill task to progress in the UEFA Champions League when they travel to take on Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night. The Red Devils suffered a 2-0 loss at the hands of the French giants in the first leg of the last 16 tie.
However, that still stands as the only time United have lost since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge as caretaker manager. The Norwegian has brought a sense of belief to Old Trafford – something which was missing under erstwhile manager, Jose Mourinho.
In 15 games under Solskjaer, Man United have won 12, drawn two and lost just once, which was against PSG in the Champions League round of 16 first-leg. And there is every reason to believe that the Red Devils could overturn the result and qualify for the next round of the competition.
On Tuesday, Ajax showed the way by eliminating Real Madrid with a 4-1 win, after losing the first-leg 1-2 at home. Solskjaer’s men can equally chalk such a feat against PSG and here is why:
#1 Complacency on the part of PSG
Paris Saint-Germain are definitely favourites to advance in the game against Manchester United. The Ligue 1 champions have been in imperious form this season and their 2-0 win over the Red Devils in the first-leg was no fluke.
In fact, player-for-player, PSG are miles ahead when it comes to quality, with Man United presenting a depleted squad following injuries to as many as 10 first-team players.
However, one thing that could play in favour of the English side is complacency creeping into the minds of the PSG players. Having easily won at Old Trafford, the Parisians might count themselves as a side that has already qualified.
But as shown in the Real Madrid vs Ajax game, every result can be overturned. Two years ago, PSG had a 4-0 advantage over Barcelona after the first-leg but contrived to lose 6-1 in the second leg to exit the Champions League. This same kind of complacency could be the trump card for United on Wednesday night.
#2 Manchester United are better when playing away from home
When it comes to current form, there is very little that separates both Manchester United and PSG. Both teams have been dominant since the turn of the year and have racked up impressive wins in recent months.
PSG have won each of their last eight games in all competitions, while Man United have dropped points just thrice in 15 games. What one should note, though, is that all the points dropped by the Red Devils under Solskjaer came in home games.
Under the Norwegian manager, Man United have once again become a force to reckon with but they have proved to be a better side when playing away from home. The English giants have played eight games on the road since Solskjaer was appointed and have won each and every one of them.
Playing away at PSG will be a daunting task, but the Red Devils’ impressive 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago is enough proof of how they are better when playing away from home. PSG could be witnessing an upset at the Parc des Princes.
#3 Young players hungry to prove themselves
Many Manchester United fans have been downbeat ahead of the crucial second-leg last 16 Champions League tie against PSG. This is due to the sheer number of Red Devils players that are currently on the treatment table.
The likes of Anthony Martial, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Alexis Sanchez are all injured, while the influential Paul Pogba misses out due to suspension. However, the absence of the aforementioned players has opened the doors for some youngsters to be introduced into the first team.
Youngsters like Chong, Gomes and Garner are very talented and also hungry for success, therefore, there is no better time to unleash them than against PSG. These are players who want to nail down places in the Man United first team and will give their all to achieve that.
PSG may be favourites, but United have a trump card in these youngsters who, on their day, could tend to be the turning point in this crucial Champions League fixture.
