IN FOR THE KYL

Mbappe hands Reds uphill struggle but Ole insists: ‘Mountains are there to be climbed’

IT would be easy to label this a brutal reality check. To call it out as an audition flunked by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

It would be easy to say this is why Manchester United need a coach with continental pedigree, to say this was a clinical reminder of the Norwegian’s naivety.

It would be easy to say this, the first defeat of his 12-match reign, is why the 45-year-old should not get the job on a permanent basis.

But forget all that. For now, at least. This was simply about the destructive pace and talent of the world’s finest young player.

This was about Kylian Mbappe’s jet-heeled brilliance and the Frenchman’s ability to strike fear into an entire team.

Even before he sprinted past Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly – like Frankel taking on a pair of shire horses – and tucked away Angel di Maria’s smart assist, he had defenders in red shirts nervously sucking in oxygen.

Never mind the absence of Neymar and Edinson Cavani, when a team has an out-ball to Mbappe at their disposal, they carry a clear and present danger.

With United needing goals in Paris – and without Paul Pogba after a second booking when catching Dani Alves – if Mbappe stays fit this last-16 tie is as good as over.

Solskjaer said: “They had the momentum after the first goal and controlled the game.

“You could see we hadn’t played at this level for a while and we will have to learn.

“It was an experience that can go either way. It’s not going to be a season-defining one, it’s one we have to learn from.”

United’s performance was not disastrous, not at all. Defensively suspect, sure – but in-game injuries certainly did not help.

Until they lost Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial – the former seconds before half-time, the latter at the break – they pretty much held their own.

On the injuries, though, the United boss added: “You can’t say that’s a reason – we had quality players to come on.

“But Lingard and Martial give us something and let’s hope they are not too serious. They are muscle injuries, we have to wait a couple of days.

“Paul is trying to get his body across and Alves is clever enough to put his foot in there.

“Paul wants to shield the ball, he’s unlucky.

“Mountains are there to be climbed, you can’t lay down and say this is over. We will go there, play our game and improve from today. Today is a reality check for us.”

Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Marcus Rashford were at the heart of a United start that was rousing if lacking in composure.

But composure was a quality not lacking in a PSG team shorn of two blue-chip talents. Gradually they began to take control and when Mbappe’s switch was flicked, danger was a frequent visitor to David de Gea.

If Lindelof and Ashley Young were somehow unaware of the extent of the 20-year-old’s pace they are not now. Yet United, with Young lucky not to see a second yellow, got to half-time unscathed. Well, not quite as those injuries struck both Lingard and Martial.

The disruption merely seemed to bolster PSG superiority.

The pressing eased and Paris flourished, edging ahead when Presnel Kimpembe blindsided Matic and arrived to volley in an Di Maria corner eight minutes after the restart.

It was hardly the finest setpiece defending and not only Matic was culpable. De Gea might have thought about coming off his line while Pogba mistimed his leaping bid at an interception.

But it was a fine delivery from Di Maria, who – as well as being