Manchester United beaten by PSG as Solskjaer tastes first defeat

Posted Wednesday, February 13, 2019 by PA

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suffered his first defeat as Manchester United caretaker manager and Paul Pogba was sent off as Angel Di Maria returned to haunt his former club and help Paris St Germain take control of this Champions League last-16 tie.

The first competitive encounter between these sides went the way of the visitors at Old Trafford, where the Norwegian’s first European game in charge saw the end of his 11-match unbeaten start to life in the hotseat.

PSG may have been without Neymar and Edinson Cavani but they boasted a player with a point to prove against United. Di Maria rose to the occasion amid the jeers to superbly provide assists for Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe in a comfortable 2-0 first-leg win for the visitors.

Full-time at Old Trafford. #MUFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/gv8Ai6ICXw
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 12, 2019

As if Solskjaer’s men were not already facing a mountain to climb on March 6, Pogba will miss the trip to the French capital after picking up a late second booking to compound injuries to Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial.

PSG failed to muster a first-half shot on target as United held their own at the start, only to wilt as Di Maria made light of rough treatment from former team-mates and fans.

Signed for a then-British record fee in 2014 and sold after one poor season, he helped Thomas Tuchel’s side go ahead as Kimpembe turned home his exceptional corner delivery in the 53rd minute.

Manchester United beaten by PSG as Solskjaer tastes first defeat — Angel Di Maria was a thorn in the side of his former club (Martin Rickett/PA)

Di Maria’s pass was then swept home by Mbappe six minutes later to leave United flailing, with David De Gea producing some fine stops to prevent their difficult task in France becoming impossible.

But Pogba’s second yellow card at the death may have just swung the balance.