Patience was the message in historic win
THE platform for Marcus Rashford’s injury-time winner that sent United into the Champions League quarter-finals was laid at half-time as the players preached patience.
Two Romelu Lukaku goals in the first half in the Parc des Princes had Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side leading 2-1 at half-time and needing one more goal to go through.
But after a chaotic first half that had also seen Juan Bernat equalise for Paris Saint-Germain, the second half was a much more sedate affair until the late drama that capped United’s miraculous comeback.
The threat from the visitors had been sporadic after the interval but when Presnel Kimpembe was penalised for handling a Diogo Dalot shot after a VAR review, Rashford stepped up to fire United into the last eight.
Captain Ashley Young revealed the players had called for patience after the break and they were solid defensively in the second half.
“We said coming out for the second half that we had 45 minutes to score a goal, we didn’t need to score in the first five or 10 minutes, we just need that one chance. We knew it would come and we had to put it away,” he said.
“The kid [Rashford] showed nerves of steel to step up, it was a long time for him to take the penalty but it was an incredible penalty and the scenes of celebration were magnificent.”
In winning 3-1 in Paris United became the first team in European Cup history to progress in a knockout tie despite losing the first leg at home by two goals or more. It was the 107th time that had happened and it was a night for United to write another chapter in their incredible European history.
“It’s nice to be part of that history but we had a tough task tonight, we’ve come through it with a depleted squad,” Young added.
“It will be nice to get some of the 10 injured players but that shows the team spirit and the mentality we’ve got, that ‘never say die’ Man United attitude.
“Everyone in that dressing room, every player and every member of staff, had that believe that we could win the game and score goals. “We had a game plan, every man knew what we were doing. At times we had to give up possession but I think we frustrated them, we kept the ball when we needed to and passed the ball forward, when you do that you score goals and you win the game. “It’s an unbelievable achievement.” This victory strengthened Solskjaer’s claims to becoming United’s next permanent manager. He has suffered just one defeat in 17 games in charge – a 2-0 reverse in the first leg at Old Trafford that has now been rendered irrelevant. But Young was taking the diplomatic approach to that decision. “It’s not down to the players to decide,” he said. “If you look from the outside you’d say ‘why not?’ He’s been fantastic since he’s come in, a breath of fresh air. “The way he’s gone about the job has been unbelievable. The achievements we’ve made in a short space of time have been fantastic. “Luckily for us as players we don’t have to decide, it’s down to the owners and the directors.”
It was an incredible penalty and the scenes of celebration were magnificent Ashley Young