Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tells his Man Utd squad to seek inspiration from PSG's 2017 meltdown against Barcelona

PSG were on the receiving end of one of the biggest Champions League comeback defeats against Barcelona two years ago.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is convinced Manchester United can spark another famous Paris Saint Germain meltdown and make Champions League history.

United are aiming to become the first team to recover from a 2-0 first leg home defeat in Europe’s premier competition.

In all, 106 teams have failed to overcome that score line away from home – but Solskjaer believes his team can get into the heads of PSG’s players at the Parc des Princes.

The French champions squandered a 4-0 first leg victory against Barcelona two years ago – losing 6-1 in the return leg at the Nou Camp.

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Solskjaer has used that game as an inspiration for his players – and believes a goal in Paris on Wednesday night will send jitters around Thomas Tuchel’s team.

“It is never mission impossible,” said the Norwegian here in Paris. “It’s more difficult, but we’ve got to get the first goal and anything can happen.

“Suddenly goals always change games and if we get the first one we’ll be believing even more and they might start doubting themselves. It’s important we get the first one.

“Results in the Champions League in the last few years - I don’t want to call it strange - but last year Juventus lost 3-0 at home to Real Madrid and suddenly were 3-0 up at Real after 90 mins.

“The year before that, PSG against Barcelona, we remember those results. So there are so many examples of teams who can change results like this.

Solskajer not giving up on the Champions League.
EPA

"Also, as a club we’ve done it so many times, the players have been fantastic away from home, beaten Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, which has given us the belief we can do this as well.”

Solskjaer has enjoyed an outstanding start as interim manager – winning 13 of his 16 games in charge, with a 100 percent record away from home.

But that first leg defeat to PSG was his darkest moment in the job – pointing to the gap that now exists between United and Europe’s elite.

“I’ve got to say I was disappointed,” He added. ’At half time, 0-0, with injuries we had, we spoke about keeping a clean sheet because that’s going to be important and vital.

“I was disappointed in the way we conceded the goals and the next 10 minutes we looked all over the place.

In Pictures | Man Utd vs PSG | 12/02/2019

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“It’s easy in hindsight to sit in the stands and analyse we should have done this, done that. In the heat of the moment we made a couple of mistakes and at this level small mistakes are punished.

“You play against top, top class players, you get away with it in the Premier League, but not in the Champions League at the latter stages.

“The reaction has been really good. We won at Chelsea, didn’t concede against them or Liverpool, so we know we’re capable of keeping clean sheets.”

United’s task has been made all the more daunting because of an injury crisis that has ruled out 10 first team players, while Paul Pogba is suspended.

Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sanchez, Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata are the key injuries – forcing Solskjaer to call up a clutch of academy players.

Teenagers Mason Greenwood, Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes, James Garner, Brandon Williams have all been included in the squad for the round of 16 tie.

But Solskjaer refuses give up on a place in the quarter-finals.

He said: “We’ll never approach any game as a lost cause. We put that pressure on ourselves.

“Everyone expects us to go out and easily - but that doesn’t happen with Man United. Our pride was hurt last time we played them so we’re going to see players who give their all. If we get nine or 10 playing to the top standards we’ve got a chance.”

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