Rio Ferdinand can’t see a way back for Manchester United after their 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.
The home side didn’t start too badly, but after losing Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial to injury, were unable to make themselves a threat in the first-leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.
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In last year’s Champion’s League last 16, United managed a 0-0 away draw before losing 2-1 at home to Seville.
United’s last quarter-final appearance was in 2014 against Bayern Munich, which they lost 4-2 on aggregate.
This match was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first and only defeat since taking over at United.
United had never lost by more than a one-goal margin at home in European competition before Tuesday night.
Solskjaer played a key role in United’s greatest ever comeback as they beat Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final thanks to two late goals.
Ferdinand, himself a Champions League winner at United, picked up on two players he felt to be particularly poor in Tuesday night’s loss.
Highlighting both Alexis Sanchez and Juan Mata as weak links, Ferdinand said (as reported by the Express): “I think this is a reality check for this Man United team.
“But I don’t think it’s a bad thing, I think it’s something they’re going to have to learn from.Now we’ll see their reaction to it and I think that’s important.”
Ferdinand wasn’t overly critical of a United side that was outclassed all over the pitch by a technically superior PSG side, but has ruled out their chances of progression.
“They started with intensity, defending from the front, which the injuries at half time meant it fizzled out in the second half.
“They didn’t get around players, you needed players out there to be ratting around.
“Second half that was non-existent and as an attacking force they offered very little.
“And this PSG team, without two of their best attacking players, coasted through the second half of this game and really put this game to bed, I think the tie too.”
PSG had little success on prior trips to England, winning only once in 10 visits with four draws and five losses.
At home this season though, PSG have been a different beast and look almost unstoppable. Coupled with the fact that United have never overturned a first-leg home defeat to win a tie in Europe, Solskjaer has his work cut out.
United will also be without star-player Paul Pogba who received his marching orders for a late lunge on Dani Alves.