Manchester United’s trip to France for the UCL is a do or die match believes Ashley Young who joins his manager Solksjaer in his argument that they can overturn the results sending a warning to their competitor, PSG who have two away goal difference.
Manchester United’s task in Paris may look a forlorn one this week, needing to overturn a 2-0 first leg defeat at Old Trafford with 10 first team players out injured and Paul Pogba suspended.
But Ashley Young has warned people against writing United off at the Parc des Princes and even with resources depleted for Wednesday’s last-16 second leg he is confident his side have enough to land a famous victory.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s problems began to mount in the first half of the first leg when Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard suffered injuries. Thomas Tuchel’s side took advantage in the second half to score twice to take a commanding advantage in the tie, while Pogba was sent-off in the closing stages.
United could be without their entire first choice midfield in the French capital, but Young insists they are still in the tie and will fight to their last breath.
“We know what we’re capable of,” United’s stand-in captain said. “People can write us off. People were writing us off at the start of the season and people are writing us off now. It’s no different.
“Obviously it’s going to be tough. We’ve got to go over there, win the game and score goals. I’ve got every faith if we defend well and if we create the chances that I know we can do, we can win the game.
“We’ve got to go out there and win the game. We can’t worry too much about them, it’s all about us.”
With Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera struggling with injury Solskjaer could be forced to field Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira and Fred in midfield.
But United have coped with their injury crisis in beating Crystal Palace and Southampton over the last week, scoring six goals in the process, and Young has backed the squad to show they have the depth to cope once again.
“We’ve had that for the last couple of games. There have been players who have been missing and at this time of the season it’s not ideal,” he said.
“There are players who are ready to come in and fill their boots. Everyone has got to be ready and I’m sure whoever comes in for Paul will go and do their job the best they can.
“It’s been tough. It’s never easy when you’ve got so many injuries but it shows the squad that we’ve got here. There are other people carrying knocks but we’re getting through games. That’s just how the team spirit is.”
The first leg defeat to PSG remains United’s only loss under Solskjaer. The dramatic 3-2 win against Southampton on Saturday made it 12 games unbeaten in the Premier League and moved United back into fourth place after a draw in the north London derby in the weekend’s early kick-off.
“I think it was a massive result after seeing the Arsenal Tottenham game,” said Young. “We had to keep the pressure on them and keep winning games.
“It was tough but I think it just shows the team spirit we’ve got and the desire to get back into games and win games. I think we showed that we’ve got that resilience to keep going right to the final whistle.”
Romelu Lukaku was the hero against the Saints, scoring twice to take his tally to four in his last two games.
“I wouldn’t want to play against him!,” added Young. “He does give us a different presence. Everyone has got a job to do in the team, whoever it is who plays up there. ”