Solskjaer: Manchester United must take game to PSG at Old Trafford
Manchester United will not sit back when Paris Saint-Germain visits Old Trafford for the first leg of their last-16 Champions League meeting on Tuesday, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said this week.
United is unbeaten in all competitions since Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho in December and its improvement is down to the Norwegian’s insistence on an attacking style of play, as opposed to the defensive fare served up by his predecessor.
“We’ve got to rediscover the Manchester United way of playing, and I don’t think many teams enjoy their nights at Old Trafford when we’re on song,” Solskjaer, who has 10 wins and a draw so far, told the UEFA website.
“It’s about taking the game to the opposition, always believing in yourself. If you asked other managers who played against Sir Alex [Ferguson]’s teams, the pace and the tempo going forward was key.
“I have three good forwards myself. As well as [Marcus] Rashford, [Anthony] Martial, [Romelu] Lukaku, we have [Alexis] Sanchez and [Jesse] Lingard. They can challenge PSG’s defense.”
Solskjaer’s managerial record in domestic competitions with United speaks for itself, but Tuesday’s match will be his first test against elite European competition.
Progress for United in the Champions League would reinforce the case for Solskjaer to be named United’s permanent manager and the 45-yearold has fond memories of the tournament.
“The biggest nights of my career have been Champions League nights,” said Solskjaer, who scored the winner for United in the 1999 final which helped the club complete a treble, including the Premier League and FA Cup titles.
“When you get to this stage of the tournament, with the floodlights on, these are the games that you really look forward to.”
Porto, Roma face off in last-16
In Tuesday’s other match, FC Porto travels to the Stadio Olimpico to face Roma in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Sergio Conceicao’s side qualified for the knockout stages after a near perfect showing in Group D, where it recorded five wins and a draw. Roma, meanwhile, finished behind holder Real Madrid in Group G and was beaten three times.
Roma lost its last home match in the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid. Prior to that loss, however, it had won seven successive home games in the competition.
Robin Olsen, Kostas Manolas, Cengiz Under and Diego Perotti all missed Friday night’s win at Chievo for Roma. Di Francesco is hopeful to have Manolas back for Tuesday’s clash, while Olsen has an outside chance of making a return.
Porto are missing its top scorer in all competitions this season with striker Moussa Marega ruled out due to a muscle problem. The Malian forward has five goals in six Champions League matches.
Still, Porto heads to the Italian capital in strong form, unbeaten in any of its last 26 games overall.
It may have suffered a few draws domestically in recent weeks, but is top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga and its injury-time equalizer at Moreirense on Friday night underlines just how difficult it is to beat.
Roma has been a little erratic this term, a fact reinforced by its record at the Stadio Olimpico. No side in Serie A has scored more goals at home this season, yet only four teams have conceded more. Champions League last-16 first-leg on TV:
Tuesday: Manchester United vs Paris Saint-Germain (live on Sport5 at 10 p.m.); Roma vs FC Porto (live on Sport5+at10p.m.).Wednesday: Ajax vs Real Madrid (live on Sport5 at 10 p.m.); Tottenham Hotspur vs Borussia Dortmund (live on Sport5+ at 10 p.m.).