Last season’s Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain stand as Manchester United’s toughest obstacle in a complicated Group H that also features German side RB Leipzig and Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir.
Drawing PSG will have United fans fondly remembering the last time their team met the French champions in 2019, where after a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford in the Champions League last-16, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side won the return leg 3-1 in Paris to advance on away goals – a stoppage-time Marcus Rashford penalty sealing the win.
“Get the contract out, put it on the table,” BT Sport pundit and ex-United captain Rio Ferdinand famously said after that victory. “Ole’s at the wheel, he’s doing his thing. Man United are back.”
The club handed Solskjaer the keys on a permanent basis that summer, and following a Europa League campaign in 2019-20 which ended with a semi-final defeat to Sevilla, they are back in the continent’s premier competition.
Yessss Ole is officially at The Wheel… Signed, Sealed, Delivered! Manager of @ManUtd! ???????? I hope my Thank You is in post Ole ????????
#MUFC #Ole pic.twitter.com/lUUel4f6zw
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) March 28, 2019
Exactly how big the gulf between United and Europe’s top table is will all become clear during their two meetings with PSG, who after losing the final to Bayern Munich last season will be determined to go one better this time around to prevent Neymar and Kylian Mbappe from getting itchy feet.
Leipzig meanwhile will certainly be no rollover for United. The Bundesliga side lost to PSG in last season’s semi-finals, but had already sent Tottenham packing in the last 16 before shocking Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the quarters.
Coached by 33-year-old Julian Nagelsmann, Leipzig have made a steady start to the Bundesliga with one win and one draw. They will not be daunted by the size of their task this side of Christmas, and will back themselves to reach the knockouts come 2021.
Finally, Istanbul Basaksehir, who could be viewed as the whipping boys of Group H, but with a handful of ex-Premier League stars they will be out to prove otherwise after beating Trabzonspor and Besiktas to the Süper Lig title in Turkey.
Back to where everything start dreams come true
— Rafael da Silva (@orafa2) October 1, 2020
Defender Rafael will get the chance to face United, the club he played for from 2008 to 2015, while Istanbul also boast former Newcastle and Chelsea striker Demba Ba, ex-Spurs midfielder Nacer Chadli, and ex-Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel in their ranks.
Follow i sport on Facebook for more football news, interviews and features
More on football
- Sam Johnstone tells Sam Cunningham why he is finally ready to become a Premier League star
- The making of Timo Werner: How his father’s motivation and ‘scary’ power meant Chelsea star was always destined for the top
- Eric Dier reveals why he stormed into the stands to confront an abusive Spurs fan
- Daniel Storey: How to lose supporters and alienate Messi, by FC Barcelona
- An apology to Man Utd’s Jesse Lingard
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2Go20kG
Post a Comment