Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rallied Manchester United for their Champions League salvage operation in Paris, and declared: ‘It’s never mission impossible.’
United trail after losing the first leg 2-0 at home to Paris Saint-Germain and Solskjaer was reminded that no team in the history of the European Cup or Champions League has recovered from that position to progress in 106 attempts.
United’s task is even harder because they travelled to Paris without the suspended Paul Pogba and nine injured players – Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones and Matteo Darmian.
But he refused to see his team written off and warned that the French champions may wobble if United get the first goal at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
‘It’s never mission impossible,’ said Solskjaer. ‘Of course, it’s more difficult. We have got to get the first goal and then anything can happen. Goals always change games. If we get the first one, we’ll be believing even more and they might start doubting. But it’s important we get the first one.
‘We’ll never approach any game as a lost cause. The outside pressure is off and everyone expects us to go out easily, but that doesn’t happen with Man United players. Our pride was hurt the last time we played them so you’re going to see players who will give their all. Let’s hope PSG underperform.
‘When no-one believes in you there's always that little bit of character we have to show ourselves. Making history is the motivation, it’s going through. These players are not used to losing. They were not happy with how we lost the home game, and at our best we can match them.’
Solskjaer pointed to Barcelona’s sensational comeback win to beat PSG from 4-0 down in 2017, and Real Madrid’s scare at the hand sof Juventus after leading 3-0 last season as examples of ties being turned on their head.
‘Everyone knows we ‘ve done it,’ he added. ‘The results in the Champions League the past few years have been strange – last year Juventus and Real Madrid and we all remember PSG and Barcelona – so there are many examples of teams that can change results like this.
‘We as a club have done it so many times. The players have been fantastic away from home, and we’ve beaten Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea.’