Solskjaer makes two changes for PSG decider

Paul Pogba is absent due to suspension while Alexis Sanchez misses out due to the injury he picked up in Saturday's 3-2 win over Southampton at Old Trafford.

 

Their replacements are Fred – who provided an assist for Romelu Lukaku's winner at the weekend – and Eric Bailly, who makes his first United start since our previous meeting with the French champions on 12 February.

 

Solskjaer told BT Sport: "We go into this game positive knowing that players who will be starting are all full internationals. They’re 11 internationals. We’ve got players there that are fresh, they haven’t played too much, so we’ve got to look at the positives in the circumstances."

"When you go to places like this you need to make sure you stay in the game. Of course we’re going to have to play well with the ball as well, but we have to defend first and foremost. Make it difficult for them to score. We need the first goal. We can’t give them the first goal, then the tie will probably be over."

Andreas Pereira starts in a creative midfield role after performing well and scoring against Southampton.

 

"Andreas did it at the weekend [took his chance to play] and he scored a fantastic goal. We’ve got players there who can create moments of magic and hopefully that’ll happen tonight. We’ve got set piece deliveries, we’ve got quite a few big, strong players in the box, so we’re confident that we can cause them problems and then hopefully we can take our chances."

Romelu Lukaku also retains his place, after two goals and a Man-of-the-Match display in our last outing, while Solskjaer is also encouraged by the young, attacking talent he has on the bench.

“Yeah, he’s [Lukaku] in great form now, I have to say. He’s really turned a corner and he’s worked hard and now he gets his rewards. If we have to, if we need goals towards the end, we’ve got Chongy [Tahith Chong], Angel [Gomes] or even Mason [Greenwood].” 

Paris Saint-Germain are unchanged from the first leg at Old Trafford last month, though Les Rouges et Bleus' all-time top scorer, Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani, returns to the bench after almost a month out with injury.

 

United: De Gea; Young, Bailly, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Fred, Andreas Pereira; Rashford, Lukaku.

Subs: Romero, Dalot, Rojo, Garner, Gomes, Chong, Greenwood.

 

PSG: Buffon; Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Verratti, Marquinhos, Dani Alves; Draxler, Di María, Mbappe.

Subs: Areola, Paredes, Cavani, Meunier, Choupo-Moting, Kurzawa, Dagba.

Reading this in our app? If not, you might miss some exclusive features not found on ManUtd.com. Download the Official App here.