WE MUST BE PERFECT... LIKE PARIS
Solskjaer says United don’t need a GPS to navigate their way to Wembley, all they need is another PSG
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER admits Manchester United need a “perfect performance” tonight to reach the Carabao Cup final.
Holders Manchester City take a 3-1 lead into the semi-final second leg at the Etihad, having blitzed United at Old Trafford.
Although City are firm favourites to go through, Solskjaer called on his United players to invoke the spirit of their epic win at Paris Saint-Germain last season.
United overcame a two-goal deficit in the French capital to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals against a backdrop of injuries and suspension.
It is a similar story this time around, with United missing Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay. But Solskjaer said the experience of Paris gives him hope of causing a major upset, as does United’s surprise win at City in the Premier League last month.
“It has to be a perfect performance to win by
two goals against such a good team away from home,” said Solskjaer. “So for us it’s not about away goals this time, we just need to score two more than them.
“If we concede two, we need to score four, so it would be good not to concede first because that makes it more difficult.
“It looked like it was over at halftime in that first leg because they outplayed us for a while. But when we got the goal we were back in it, so we hope for another one.
“Now we’ve got to go into the memory bank and think PSG. We’ve done it against good teams before and that gives us some hope.
“And the game in December, of course, gives us hope that we can do something there.”
With away goals not counting and no extra time, United need to win by two goals to take the tie to penalties or by three to go through.
Solskjaer admitted United took full advantage of City’s wobble last month, since when Pep Guardiola’s side have won 11 of 13 games.
“They’re getting players back as well,” said the Old Trafford boss.
“I think we hit them last time when they were struggling a little bit and since then they’ve played really well.”
City won 2-1 with first-half goals from Rashford and Anthony Martial, with Nicolas Otamendi pulling one back late on for City
“We’ve lost Scott and Marcus since that game, so of course we’re a little bit lighter in the player department, but we can’t just defend,” Solskjaer said.
“We have to go out there and try to keep the ball and make them run after the ball. That isn’t too easy because they’re one of the best pressing teams.
“So it has to be a perfect performance, but we’ve done amazing things before at this club.
“The PSG game is a very good example of how you can make a two-goal deficit work in your favour. But we need the first goal.”