PSG vs Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plotting to ‘stay in the game’ to save Champions League tie

United need to score twice in order to progress. At the very same time, it would not be wise to let go of the reins against a Paris Saint-Germain side that could easily pick them off

So far, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has recited every word of the ‘How to be a Manchester United manager’ manual. His job – as he regularly reminds us – is to seek to win every game, to promote young talent when and where possible and, above all else, to play exciting, attacking football.

His two-and-a-half months in caretaker charge have been note-perfect in this regard. If United are a superior team when compared to their opponent, Solskjaer does not burden his players with reems upon reems of tactical instructions. Instead, he trusts their talents to win the day.

Naive? Too simplistic? Perhaps, but this freedom of expression he has encouraged has led to big, convincing and entertaining wins as well as restoring spirits around the club. It turns out that encouraging players with the ability of Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford is more productive than criticising, undermining and belittling them after all.

But this midweek trip to Paris is unlikely to one filled with the same joie de vivre. Two away goals down, United need to score twice in order to progress. At the very same time, it would not be wise to let go of the reins against a Paris Saint-Germain side that could easily pick them off.

The tie calls for a more nuanced approach and key absences do not help Solskjaer. United are without first-team 10 players in the French capital, including the banned Pogba and injured Martial. The line-up Solskjaer is expected to field is his only real viable option unless he wants to hand a first senior start to an academy product.

The need for Solskjaer to adopt a nuanced tactical approach is, therefore, even greater. And like in several of their meetings with other top clubs during his caretaker spell so far, we can expect his United to sit deep, allow the opponent to dominate possession and pick them off on the counter.

Take the wins over Tottenham and Arsenal for example, or the draw with Liverpool. United ended all three with less than a 40 per cent share of possession. The victory at Chelsea in the FA Cup – a game where United were rarely troubled – still came with just 42 per cent of the ball. It was their most mature display under Solskjaer to date.

And though this approach may appear a departure from the swashbuckling Ferguson style that Solskjaer wants to replicate, the Scot was much more of a pragmatist than he is often remembered. His reaction to being outclassed in Europe – as United were, especially in the mid-1990s – was to make a conservative change.

Manchester United players train in Paris (Getty Images)

Whether it was adopting a more possession-based approach or neglecting two-up-top formations in favour of a lone striker, Ferguson recognised that United’s insistence on fast and direct ‘British’ play would not always cut it at the continental level. His willingness to adapt was ultimately rewarded with two European Cups.

It made sense, then, that Solskjaer spoke about ‘staying in the game’ as much as scoring the goals that United need during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday evening. PSG’s attack was still a problem to be considered, despite his side entering this second leg with little to lose.

Recalling the first leg, he said: “I was disappointed with the way we conceded the goals and the next 10 minutes we looked all over the place. The reaction has been really good. We won at Chelsea, didn’t concede against them or Liverpool. We know we’re capable of keeping clean sheets.

“It’s a difficult task but we can do it. Obviously, we need the first goal and we need to stay in the game. Half an hour left and one goal in it, anything can happen. But we need a good plan, it needs to be put in place and we need to perform on the night because they are a team full of quality.”

The dilemma Solskjaer has is that if United do get that important first goal but allow the evening to become a shoot-out, their hopes of reaching the last eight against an attack powered by Kylian Mbappé could be quickly extinguished.

If, on the other hand, he manages to build on the moments of tactical flexibility and ingenuity that we have seen during his caretaker reign so far, then it will answer one of the few questions remaining over his candidacy for the permanent role.

It is becoming increasingly likely that Solskjaer is to be Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor but a famous European turnaround, from this unlikely position, could seal it.