[IrishRedDevil]

Couldn’t have gone any worse

Martial and Lingard injured

Pogba red card

Di Maria having the last laugh

 

[Gasolin]

With Pogba's red, it makes things overly complicated now.

 

[Fosu-Mens]

When Sanchez and Mata came on for Lingard and Martial the game was more or less over.

Marquinhos man marked Pogba, and he got help from those around him. As we have already stated on here; We got no second plan if Pogba is not in the game. So we predicted this.

And with the two half time substitutes the game was over. Midfield got no help from Mata and Sanchez when off the ball, and when in possession they offered little. Again, nothing new. We already knew this. And we would still struggle with them on even if Kimpempe got sent off.

Only positive is that with the starting 11 we were on pair with them more or less. But with Pogbas red card we can forget about the return fixture. No chance without him. No chance at all.

 

[EasyE]

Reality check!!
A good team against an average ageing team.

What?

 

[Canagel]

Were we watching different games? PSG were dangerous on the counter all game, the spaces were clear to see and they were able to bypass it with beautiful 1 touch passing football

Not really. Our high press put them under pressure and everytime they beat the first line the second one came quickly and generally felt they were rushed and misplaced balls. I felt really good at that stage. You'll still get the people saying we're not in the same class though.

 

[pierrethesnack]

Beaten by a better side, but some positives as well:

- Good attitude and tireless work. Really liked how we pressed, and how the players kept trying even after conceding
- Herrera and Lindelöf showed that they're quality against good sides as well
- Young wasn't half as bad as some expected
- Decent game by Matic as well, except when he forgot his marking

All in all this wasn't half as depressing as it would have been under Mourinho. This team has promise, but needs more time to figure out a structured way of attacking, right now it's a bit too much "run forward and try to score", but I'm hopeful this will improve. This was always going to be a difficult game, and I don't think this result tells us anything we don't know. We were always going to need a bit of luck and for things to go our way to get through this - it didn't happen and we lost.

Learn what we can from it and let's regain our optimism before the Chelsea game!

 

[SalfordRed18]

Game was over when martial and lingard went off. We need better options in the squad I feel.

 

[Berbaclass]

This is delusion .They toyed with us.What did we create? Nothing.

Nope, very even game until the goal which changed everything. We were toothless but it’s no as if they ran riot.

 

[Moriarty]

Tuchel did a superb job tactically. Nullified our forwards, throttled Pogba, and exploited our weak full-backs. PSG's defence never lost its shape and Buffon was a spectator. A very good away performance from PSG. As for us, we've some serious ground to catch up. As the politicians say, the green shoots of recovery are there and that's encouraging but for now, we are a long way behind the top European sides. The ref was merciless and maybe he could have been less card-happy early on but in these games, that's pretty much the standard. A prem referee would have been more lenient.

 

[Robertd0803]

Well that was a bloody disaster. Shit ref and we fell apart after Martial and Lingard went off. 1st goal was a stupid goal to concede and Mbappes goal was stupidly predictable.

 

[Hugh Jass]

The general reaction really does my head in. One defeat against a team that is better than us and now we are crap again apparently.

‘A reality check’, really? Surely you all knew we weren’t good enough to win the Champions League this season?

‘Ole was naive’, his tactics were thrown out the window by Martial and Lingard going off injured. We couldn’t maintain the high press anymore and exposed our defence for what it was under Mourinho. It’s not Ole’s fault the only attacking options on the bench are two wingers that have no pace and a striker so out of form he can’t control a football anymore.

This.

 

[TMDaines]

Oh well. Very disappointing, especially as PSG over really turned it on for about 10 minutes, which was enough to score twice. Quality of the match was otherwise really poor from both sides on the ball.

Didn’t think Martial was much of a loss at HT, but the real cost was the manager having his hands tied a bit when the game changed with only one sub left. Easy to say the subs were wrong in hindsight, but I got ripped in the stands by suggesting that Fred should have been our first sub to move Pogba away his marker’s expected zone. Think that was the key mistake by the manager (or the players also by not using their own intiative) in combatting the man-marking job on Pogba by having him drift and other players exploiting that space.

I thought we lacked on-field leaders again. As wel as just accepting Pogba being marked and doing nothing about it. We lost any semblance of patience chasing a goal. Herrera got the number of shots off that he did as they were happy to let him have them. Can’t be wasteful in that manner.

Games like this really evidence our lack of width. All our forwards want to cut inside and Young is our only full back to act an auxiliary winger. That needs addressing.

Highly improbable to go through unless an unprecedented comeback away, but I want to see the players going there with intent.

 

[Jazz]

Good interview from Ole!

 

[pacifictheme]

Game was over when martial and lingard went off. We need better options in the squad I feel.

Yeah this.

Di maria and draxler are better deputees than alexis and mata.

Not worried. Expected us to go out over two legs, just hope that the injuries are not too bad.

 

[Redfan94]

Big investment is needed in this team.

You look at teams like City, even when they’re weakened through injuries, they’ve still got quality players on the sidelines that can not only come on without really weakening the overall strength of the team, but can also slot into the starting 11 without the need for the team’s style of play having to be totally overhauled.

Not knocking Mata and Sanchez because it’s not their fault, but when they came on you could see PSG start to feel comfortable coming forward safe in the knowledge that Rashford would be totally isolated in any attempt by us to counter attack.

Also, it would appear Lukaku will now fill the void left by Fellaini’s departure. When we’re chasing the game or need a goal late on, he’ll be lumped up top and it’ll be long balls or bust.

 

[Jim Beam]

They pretty much manage to mark Pogba out of the game which killed us going forward. The only thing we had was our pressing which injuries took care off and second half was just a walk in the park for them.

All together, they deserved it. No reason for panic, let's learn something from it and focus on top 4.

The biggest disappointment was seeing that cnut Di Maria celebrating.

 

[Sarni]

Yeah you need a few key things to even fluke competitions tbh. We are a mess at set pieces (at both ends), have young players all around, and our weakest position is our center back. It's not a combination that usually proves fruitful going up against a team with top quality players throughout, even with 2 big injuries.

We could maybe get past one opposition left in the tournament but were never going full four rounds.

Today was not that tragic to be honest. First half was 50/50 with both teams being very cautious. Having 2/3 of our frontline replaced at half time completely killed our game. We fell apart after the goal hence the second.

It was a lesson we will have to learn from but after initial disappointment I am now at peace with this.

 

[Berbaclass]

What did he do in the first half? The one on Shaw? Think that would have been a harsh yellow.

Pulled Rashford back, standard yellow.

 

[Strachans Cigar]

Ref: complete idiot. Hands out cards like confetti early on then starts bottling it. Except, strangely, late on with Pogba.

Thought United did ok first half. Signs were ominous even then though as PSG were scything through our midfield with good passing.

Lingard’s energy was missed in the 2nd half. However, we clearly aren’t in PSG’s league at the moment and I didn’t expect us to be. That will take some time.

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

Good interview from Ole!

Yes indeed.
Bit dissapointed, he did not pull three fingers up.

 

[John Johnson]

Has anyone considered, yet, that they might actually be better than us?

Literally everyone is saying this in this thread and the match day thread...

 

[El Zoido]

We competed well in the first half. Their team and squad is better than ours so we needed the flow to go with us today. Unfortunately the two injuries and the card-happy ref completely wrecked our game plan, which allowed them to come on to us. We had so many yellows and had lost our pace so they could push up on us knowing we couldn’t tackle/press and couldn’t counter attack them. It played completely in to their hands. All things being equal I really think we could cause them problems but it wasn’t to be. The tie is completely over now and my biggest concern is the impetus it will give Liverpool in a couple of weeks, coupled with the loss of Martial and Lingard, who surely will not be fit by then.

 

[saivet]

Pulled Rashford back, standard yellow.

Thought that was in the second half?

 

[RoadTrip]

Nope, very even game until the goal which changed everything. We were toothless but it’s no as if they ran riot.

I agree. I was more upset about how we really lost our way and towards the end our composure and heads more than anything.

The reality is this game highlighted the weaknesses in our team we already knew and also reminded us there is a distinct lack of leadership and resilience. And ultimately that our squad lacks depth. There are too many key positions that, if our no. 1 goes down, we have no real quality or even serviceable replacement.

 

[Oliver_]

Passes in the final third were everywhere. Team looked scared. Ref was absolutely rubbish. Ole‘s first mistake since taking over was bringimg on Mata instead of big Rom. He es far too slow. We need him playing against deeper teams. Couldn’t hold any ball in their half and every cross was picked off by Silva and Kimpembe. Awful performance all over the park.

 

[afrocentricity]

Can't complain.

Outclassed, outsmarted and found at such level of CL football. We're not an Elite European team as much as obvious.

Focus on getting top 4 and fingers crossed we make some good signings in summer to close the gap.

Fair assessment. Never nice to get shown up, but it's not so long ago we were a team struggling against upper-midtable opposition... We've come along way, buy we still have a ways to go.

 

[MetoTTT]

A lot of people laughed at Marquinhos at DM. He man marked and nullified Pogba. That was the key for them. MOTM for me, a great game by the brazilan. The best team won, never thought we'll win it. Hope Lingard and Martial injuries aren't bad and they'll be back soon. C'mon lads!

 

[Komijendo]

https://www.transfermarkt.com/daniele-orsato/profil/schiedsrichter/906

This freud didnt help off course, i think we looked good in the first doe. Obv our injuries made it harder. Not sure ole got it right with mata sub. At that point we where looking to get some crossings info the box, lukaku?

 

[Moriarty]

Nope, very even game until the goal which changed everything. We were toothless but it’s no as if they ran riot.

They didn't have to. 2-0 away from home with Cavani and maybe Neymar back for the home game. They did a very workmanlike job. Dani Alves was excellent, Di Maria played very well, and Mbappe is a joy to watch. The defence stayed together and could not be breached. If they had wanted to, I suspect they might have done a lot more damage. They're not Real Madrid or Barca or Juve, but they do have a very good squad.

 

[walkinhop]

This is delusion .They toyed with us.What did we create? Nothing.

And neither did they in the first half. People need to calm their emotions and look at the big picture. Too many posters got onto the hype following our mpst recent results. We are off but not as far as people think. On a different day we win this one

 

[yumtum]

They came with a game plan tonight, sit deep and hit us on the counter with a Usain Bolt/Ronaldo hybrid, and as soon as they worked out Sanchez and Mata were on after two of our three attackers went off injured, there was only one way they'd come out in the second.

Press the hell out of our midfield knowing full well we Wouldn't have am out ball, out thought tactically, but there wasn't much more Ole could do once Martial and Lingard went off.

For all the talk of PSG being without Neymar and Cavani, they still have a £160m future Ballon d"Or winner on the field, Di Maria, Draxler and a wealth of experience at the back, meanwhile after our two attackers get injured we're left with two over the hill players who have no pace.

The difference tonight was the investment in the respective squads, we buy over the hill players like Sanchez while they're buying young and hungry players, coupled with a good helping of luck!

The two injuries and the non red card in the first half for them swayed the tie in their favour.

Hopefully we'll get a director of football to take the footballing investment away from Woodward, maybe then we'll see some improvement in our options.

Next leg we need to give Greenwood his debut, give PSG something to think about.

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

A lot of people laughed at Marquinhos at DM. He man marked and nullified Pogba. That was the key for them. MOTM for me, a great game by the brazilan. The best team won, never thought we'll win it. Hope Lingard and Martial injuries aren't bad and they'll be back soon. C'mon lads!

Ole said it's muscle injuries, and not serious, and few days off.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Literally everyone is saying this in this thread and the match day thread...

Yes, just seen it, but the way many posters are on here, I was expecting lots of toys to be thrown out of the pram.

 

[Ødegaard]

All this showed is that we desperately need a few quality additions to the squad and first team.
At best we have a good starting XI, but none of the players we can put into any position bar CB is of any decent standard when any of our first-XI is out. We need quality in some position and quality in depth at all others.

 

[freddie the red]

Dissppointed? Yes. Gutted we're virtually out of the CL? Nope.
First half was scrappy but equal. Losing 2/3rds of our speedy attack gave them the confidence to play higher up and their first scorer should have been off well before his goal.
Providing league results continue and the atmosphere around the club stays positive, then as far as I'm concerned, Ole will still be at the wheel in August, hopefully with several departures and quality replacements brought in.
A bit concerned about the two injuries for the rent boys game but they were completely awful at the weekend so let's hope that continues.

 

[pierrethesnack]

Some honesty required here.

The likes of Rashford, Herrera, Young, Lingard, Mata and Sanchez are fine against mid table PL teams but are simply not good enough at the highest level.

We need to invest in proven World Class players if we are going to compete with the very best.

Herrera was very good today, again. Won the ball time and time again. Take a deep breath.

 

[RK]

The consensus is that he was sending Young off, but either Pogba owned up or good old VAR told him he was sending off the wrong man. He couldn't even get that right.

I'm not sure there was confusion on the pitch (just tv/commentary), Young was just there as captain. I don't like the way that it seemed as though the referee was influenced in some way to send him off.

 

[Mylock]

We were beaten by a better team, there's no shame in that. PSG are a few years ahead of us in team building, experience and game Management. Ollie will know that we have 2 fullbacks that can't cross the ball . Young is not able to defend. They can regroup and win on Monday and push on against liverpool.

 

[Hugh Jass]

I felt we had chances to come away with something. A few good crosses into the box and nobody on the end of them. A few breaks in the first half that came to nothing.

The injuries changed the dynamic of the game.

We were very unlucky that the scored from the corner.

If i could go back in time i would tell Ole to start Lukaku instead of Rashford or maybe play Rashford on the RW. I think Rashford was bullied by their CBs tonight badly.

I was saying at half time it was going to be inches. Someone will make a mistake and unfortunately we made it.

Having said that even if we won 1-0 it would not have been enough to take to Paris.

 

[Nipower888]

The referee sucked and as soon as martial and lingard went down it was a loss. Its not as bad as people are making it out to be. PSG were mediocre until the injuries and probably wouldnt have won without them or the bad calls. Replacing two players who are fast and good out the counter attack matters. It opened up the game and allowed them to play more comfortable. Martial and Lingard kept messing up counter attacks but they were getting them until they went off. This forum is so reactionary and kneejerky. It wasnt that bad just unlucky.

 

[Berbaclass]

They didn't have to. 2-0 away from home with Cavani and maybe Neymar back for the home game. They did a very workmanlike job. Dani Alves was excellent, Di Maria played very well, and Mbappe is a joy to watch. The defence stayed together and could not be breached. If they had wanted to, I suspect they might have done a lot more damage. They're not Real Madrid or Barca or Juve, but they do have a very good squad.

up until the goal neither team was impressive and cancelled each other out. PSG got fortunate and then defended the lead.

Disagree about having a very good squad also, did you see their bench compared to ours today?

 

[Ahsan_6386]

I respect your opinion.

I agree we genuinely need wingers.

Yeah genuine wingers and an owner in the UEFA executive council for some miscellaneous work .