Everything you need to know about PSG

Monday 12 October 2020 13:00

United's 2020/21 Champions League campaign starts next week with a daunting trip to Paris Saint-Germain, and only our second-ever visit to the Parc des Princes.

But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side will be optimistic, having won there 3-1 – with half a team! – when we last journeyed there in 2019.
 
We're sure you know plenty about last season's Champions League runners-up, but if you need a refresher – and full details of when and where the games will take place – read on to get the lowdown on Thomas Tuchel's men...
HISTORY
 
Formed 50 years ago, PSG are one of the newest giants in European football, and have made a big imprint on the continental game since Qatar Sports Investments purchased the club in 2011. Since then, they have won seven of the nine titles in their history, and acquired some of the most famous footballers in the world. They reached the Champions League final for the first time in 2019/20, but went down 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Lisbon. Despite their worldwide brand, they have a strident, fierce support in their home city, and the Parc des Princes is renowned for its passionate atmosphere when full.
STADIUM
 
PSG played at several grounds before permanently moving to their current home, the Parc des Princes, in 1974. The stadium holds a capacity of 47,929 and, until the completion of the Stade de France prior to the 1998 World Cup, was the home to the France's national teams in both football and rugby union. In its current guise, the stadium opened in 1972, but the same site has held sporting events since 1897 – including games in the 1938 World Cup.
 

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MANAGER
 
An acolyte of Jurgen Klopp, Tuchel gained his first opportunity in management at Mainz, when succeeding the current Liverpool manager. He then followed in his footsteps again by joining Borussia Dortmund in 2015. Similarly, Tuchel is renowned for his enthusiasm for energetic pressing and clinical, quick attacking football. After winning the DFB Pokal Cup during his final season with Dortmund, he moved to the Parc des Princes. He has won the French league in each of his two seasons with the Parisians, and claimed a domestic quadruple last term, but fell just short of becoming the first coach in PSG history to achieve the club's holy grail: winning the Champions League. Nevertheless, Tuchel has drawn praise for managing PSG's star-laden squad, and is one of the most imaginative and tactically flexible managers currently working in European football. At a previous club, he even ordered the training pitch to be converted into a diagonal shape, so as to discourage his players from hitting passes straight down the flanks!

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PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
Unless you've been living on the moon during the last couple of years, you've probably heard of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe – PSG's two unquestionably global superstars. But there's much more to the Parisians than that. Marco Verratti is a delightful midfielder to watch, and can control games with his jinking movements and crisp use of the ball. Leandro Paredes also caught the eye last season: the Argentinian has a Michael Carrick-esque eye for passes between the lines, and helps to provide the control PSG need to feed their feted attacking trio.

FORM

The 2020/21 campaign started awkwardly for Tuchel's charges, with consecutive defeats in Ligue 1, to Metz and Marseille, respectively. But they've responded well, winning their next four games, keeping three clean sheets, and spanking Angers 6-1. But, as ever, PSG will be measured by their exploits against Europe's best. Let's hope Ole's Reds can send them back to the drawing board once again, a la 2019.

WHEN DO WE MEET

We travel to Paris for our opening group-stage game, which takes place on Tuesday 20 October (20:00 BST). Last season's runners-up head to Manchester for the return in early December, with the game kicking off at 20:00 BST on Wednesday 2 December.

The new season is here. Our 2020/21 home, away and third kits are available now from United Direct.

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