Manchester United’s good run of form continues as the Red Devils beat Southampton a couple of days ago in the Premier League. But next up, it will be a whole new ball game as PSG come to Old Trafford to face the Red Devils in the Champions League. Solskjaer will again look to outclass PSG tactically as he did in Paris last month.
The Red Devils haven’t been great at Old Trafford this season and have lately been in good form at home. PSG will look to make it big at Old Trafford whereas Solskjaer will want his men to replicate their previous performance against the Parisians. But United will be without several key men like Pogba, McTominay and Shaw and the likes of Martial, De Gea and Telles are doubtful for the game.
Let us now have a look at how Solskjaer might set up his Manchester Unites side against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at Old Trafford.
THE 4-2-3-1
With David De Gea enduring a knee injury, as he clashed against the frame of the goal against Southampton, Dean Henderson is very likely to start against PSG. Tuanzebe is also suspended from the game thus the centre-back partnership is going to Maguire and Lindelof most probably. Telles is also a doubt for the game but he has a huge chance of playing as Solskjaer said his injury doesn’t look very bad.
Pogba and Scott McTominay are both injured are thus in a double pivot, Fred is likely to play with Van de Beek, as Matic is very slow. Mason Greenwood was poor against Southampton, thus Rashford, Cavani and Dan James are likely to play as the top three with Bruno pulling the strings. Dan James will also give United more defensive protection down the right side, where Mbappe or Neymar will operate.
The Red Devils need only one more point in their two remaining games in the group stage and will want to get a point at least against PSG.
THE 4-4-2 (DIAMOND)
The 4-4-2 (Diamond) system has been implemented well under Solskjaer at Manchester United this season and was also used against Southampton in the weekend. But it might not be used against PSG as Matic will have a tough time keeping up with quick players like Mbappe and Neymar who will drift inside. Southampton were able to capitalize on the slowness of Matic and were able to play around him making it even less likely for Solskjaer to opt for this system.
But if Solskjaer has something else in mind, it will be interesting to what system he chooses.
THE 3-5-2
The 3-5-2 system has been very effectively used by Solskjaer in big games and the Red Devils played in this formation at Paris where they won 1-2. But without Luke Shaw, it will take a lot for Brandon Williams to make the same level of commitment and excellence. Thus it will be difficult for United to cope without Luke Shaw in the defence and thus it will be a test for Brandon Williams as well, in such a formation.
