REDS’ GULF WAR
Crushing home defeat to PSG shows United face huge battle to bridge chasm and regain place among Euro elite
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER knows his future as Manchester United boss will not be decided by their Champions League fate.
United are facing a last-16 exit from the competition for the second year running after losing 2-0 at home to Paris Saintgermain in the first leg. Caretaker boss Solskjaer knows how United fare in their quest for a top-four spot and in the FA Cup will determine whether he gets the job permanently.
But the broader issue facing United, after Tuesday’s brutal reality check against PSG, who have invested heavily to become Champions League contenders, is how they can haul themselves back among Europe’s elite. United are far from the level that saw them reach three Champions League finals in four years between 2008 and 2011 under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning the first of those.
What defeat to PSG showed is that United are still less than world class in key positions and spending big is the only way to bridge that gap.
Former United boss Jose Mourinho recognised as much, demanding United buy a centre-back for the kind of money Liverpool spent on Virgil van Dijk – £75million – and Manchester City did on Aymeric Laporte – £57m.
Victor Lindelof may have made great strides, but United need a centre-back of elite stature alongside him, while they also could do with new full-backs on both sides, along with a rightsided midfielder. In short, Mourinho, for all the toxicity, mistrust and regression he brought in his illfated third season, was right to predict that the only way United will get back to the top is by further significant investment.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward recognises that, but chose not to release funds to Mourinho for a central defender last summer because he did not feel those available represented an upgrade on what they already had.
But now, after a sobering lesson from PSG, a centre-back like Van Dijk (left) or Laporte is a must for United, whoever gets the manager’s job full-time, if they are to be relevant in Europe again. Solskjaer may have raised the levels of a core of United players, including Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard, but their collective progress and potential must be complemented by marquee signings who can bridge the gulf in class so apparent on Tuesday.
As for United’s immediate concern, Solskjaer and his players must put behind them the chastening defeat by PSG (above) and focus on Monday’s FA Cup last-16 tie at Chelsea.
Then there is the small matter of arch-rivals Liverpool arriving at Old Trafford on February 24 in a potentially season-defining clash for both clubs in the title race and United’s bid for a top-four spot.
Midfielder Ander Herrera said United must put the PSG defeat out of their minds and not allow it to impact on the rest of their season.
“I don’t think this result is going to hurt us because of the way we lost,” said Herrera.
“We’re not going to lose time thinking about what happened. “Chelsea is a big game for us and the FA Cup is a competition in which we lost the final last year – and deserved to win in my opinion.
“We have an opportunity to fight for the FA Cup and keep our position in the top four. Right now we have to think about that.”