NEYMAR PACKING A PUNCH
PSG star hurts United with double as Fred’s red proves costly for Ole
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has never hid from criticism since taking over at Manchester United.
So he must accept he is to blame for United’s failure to clinch their place in the Champions League last 16 with a game to spare – even though Neymar did the damage with a double.
Quite why Solskjaer did not replace Fred at half-time, with the midfielder destined to earn the red card he eventually did in the second-half, only he knows.
But with United down to 10 men for the last 20 minutes, a minute after going 2-1 down, their hopes of getting anything from the game went with the Brazilian’s departure.
United must now get a point away to RB Leipzig next Tuesday to progress. Defeat in Germany would see them demoted to the Europa League.
A point here would have secured their place in the last 16 and ensured the pressure was off for the trip to Leipzig for the final group game.
Fred was lucky to escape a straight red for the headbutt on Leandro Paredes that earned his first booking.
But Solskjaer insisted his second yellow was undeserved for a tackle on United old boy Ander Herrera.
On the first incident, the United boss said: “Fred shouldn’t have put his head towards him in the first half. I don’t think he touched him. He was a bit lucky to stay on.”
Asked if he had considered bringing Fred off at half-time, Solskjaer added: “Yeah, Fred has played well. We spoke about staying calm and on your feet.
“The second yellow card was nowhere near a foul. Ander knows that. We must be ready for Leipzig now.”
The Red Devils made the worst possible start, going behind after six minutes, their defensive shortcomings brutally exposed by PSG’s marauding and dangerous attack.
Kyl ian Mbappe and Neymar exchanged passes, the Frenchman’s shot deflecting into the path of the Brazilian, who drilled a clinical angled finish beyond David De Gea to give the visitors the lead.
De Gea had to be alert four minutes later, diving high and at full-stretch to his right to palm away a goalbound e f f o r t from Alessandro Florenzi, with Uni t ed so v u l n e ra b l e defensively. The French champions were allowed to settle in to a comfortable rhythm and dictate the game, Neymar just failing to get on the end of a Florenzi cross in the 14th minute to make it 2-0.
It was an electric start from PSG with Mbappe and Neymar taking full advantage of United’s collective anxiety and uncertainty.
Solksjaer received a huge let-off in the 21st minute when Fred clashed with Paredes and stupidly leaned his head into the midfielder’s face, sending him tumbling to the ground.
It was an over-reaction from Paredes but inexcusable from Fred, who seemed certain to be shown a red card only for ref Daniele Orsato to review the pitchside monitor and produce a yellow.
PSG were understandably furious at the decision and surrounded Orsato over the perceived injustice, while United were relieved but no doubt just as baffled as their opponents that Fred was allowed to continue.
The perceived injustice stripped PSG of their early enterprise, United capitalising on their good fortune in the 32nd minute, with Rashford levelling.
After an Anthony Martial effort was saved by Keylor Navasa, Aaron Wan-Bissaka cut the ball back to Rashford, whose shot deflected off Abdou Diallo, sending it spinning into the net.
The goal made Rashford the first
United player to score six or more goals in a Champions League campaign since Cristiano Ronaldo, who plundered eight in 2007-08.
Fred continued to live dangerously, no more so than in the 37th minute, when he was involved in another clash with Paredes, one which ended with the PSG man booked.
But a replay of the challenge showed Fred planted his right foot on Paredes in a cynical move and was lucky to escape a second booking and a subsequent red. United should have taken the lead after the restart, Cavani and Rashford linking up superbly, only for Martial to sky his shot high into the Stretford End, to the dismay of Solskjaer.
Former PSG star Cavani then hit the bar with wonderful chip that had Navas beaten, the ball eventually falling to Martial, whose effort was blocked by PSG skipper Marquinhos.
But it was Marquinhos who made the breakthrough for the Ligue 1 men in the 69th minute, steering the ball past De Gea from close range after Wan-Bissaka had played him onside.
A minute later and Fred was off, a second yellow card for another clumsy challenge, although he looked to have got the ball.
But, having been lucky to stay on earlier, he could have few complaints.
Down to 10 men, United were unable to find a route back into the game and their misery deepened when Rafinha cut back for Neymar to slot No.3.