PSG vs Manchester United: Marcus Rashford reveals what he told himself before crucial late penalty

United progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in remarkable fashion

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Marcus Rashford wanted to make sure he kept a cool head as he stepped up to score the decisive late penalty in Manchester United’s dramatic win over Paris Saint-Germain.

United progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League thanks to Rashford’s spot-kick in the fourth minute of added-on time, awarded by VAR after Presnel Kimpembe handballed inside the penalty area.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side led 2-1 on the night after Romelu Lukaku scored two goals either side of a Juan Bernat equaliser, but PSG were heading through on aggregate.

Rashford’s penalty levelled the aggregate score at 3-3, with United progressing to the last eight on away goals.

When asked by BT Sport what was going through his mind as he stood over the decisive kick, Rashford said: “I think just keep a cool head. You practice that every day and I wanted to take it. That’s probably the hardest thing, the wait before.

“Those moments are what we live for. Everything was against us but like Rom said we are used to surviving in these moments and we proved that again.”

United’s hopes of overcoming PSG dwindled as an largely uneventful second half went on. Diogo Dalot’s late speculative shot which led to Kimpembe’s handball was United’s first attempt since the break.

Solskjaer turned to youngsters Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood, who made his senior debut due to a raft of injuries in United’s ranks of late.

“Everything seemed to be against us, but we believe that we can always do something,” Rashford said.

“We can still improve and we need to keep pushing. It’s a great thing. 10 players out injured but for them [Chong and Greenwood] it’s a chance to come forward. They’ve trained every day and it’s what they deserve.”