That Manchester United went into Wednesday’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain needing just a point to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages was, in a large part, down to the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The much-maligned Norwegian coach had come up with tactical plans both against PSG in France and at home to RB Leipzig in their opening two European encounters that outwitted German duo Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann, respectively.
United picked up maximum points from those clashes, leaving them top of a group that many felt they would struggle to qualify from when the draw was made in September.
Now, though, after winning just one of their three subsequent fixtures, their future in the continent’s premier cup competition hangs by a thread heading into the final matchday.
Solskjaer must take his share of the blame for that being the case following a disastrous coaching display at Old Trafford that led to his side’s 3-1 defeat.
If the treble-winning striker had got his tactics spot on in the reverse fixture, then the 4-2-3-1 system he deployed here left plenty to be desired. Continue reading