Red Devils out to test Paris
Paris, Feb. 11: Paris SaintGermain fans were no doubt brimming with confidence about facing Manchester United when the Champions League draw was made nearly two months ago.
Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe were scoring with ease, Marco Verratti was pulling the strings in midfield, and the club had secured impressive back- to- back wins against Liverpool and Red Star Belgrade to qualify for the last 16 at Napoli’s expense.
United were struggling under then- coach Jose Mourinho, and creative players like Paul Pogba were not suited to his gritty and tactically stifling approach. Now the tables have been turned, and injury- hit PSG’s trip to Old Trafford has taken on a daunting dimension. United are unbeaten since Ole G u n n a r Solskjaer t o o k charge and Pogba, so unhappy under Mourinho, can’t stop smiling. Or scoring.
He netted twice in Saturday’s 3- 0 win at Fulham and has 11 league goals so far.
Already missing Neymar because of a right foot injury , the French champions lost two more players.
Cavani, PSG’s all- time leading scorer, damaged a tendon in his right hip in the 1- 0 win against Bordeaux, and goal- scoring right- back Thomas Meunier sustained a mild concussion. These injuries follow on from midfielder Marco Verratti’s sprained ankle three weeks ago.
Facing a pumped- up and revitalized United lineup at Old Trafford would have been difficult enough with everyone fit, but PSG coach Thomas Tuchel has problems in every position except goalkeeper. There, at least, he has the reassuring presence of
I t a l y g r e a t Members of the PSG team train in Paris.
Gianluigi Buffon .
But Tuchel is missing two of his best three forwards, and he isn’t even sure if Verratti will be ready for a game of such intensity having played only 58 minutes against Bordeaux on his return from injury.
ROMA FACE PORTO Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco called on his side to show ambition against Porto in Tuesday’s last 16, first- leg tie at the Stadio Olimpico to r e k i n d l e enthusiasm after recent knocks.