Like a breath of fresh air.
PSG switched to the right side this Wednesday night in Manchester by winning after a stunning match.
First in front, then joined, then on the edge of the abyss, but still standing, Paris managed to take the advantage while, in the process, the Red Devils found themselves at 10, with the expulsion of Fred, who would have could intervene earlier.
It took two warnings to exclude the Brazilian but, in the 21st minute, he could have been out because of his header on Leandro Paredes.
But the story today is elsewhere: here in this group H are three teams with 9 points one day before the end of the group stage.
The possibilities of qualification are numerous, more numerous than those of elimination.
But let's make it simple: by beating Istanbul Basaksehir on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes, the capital club will qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League even if a draw might be enough.
Thomas Tuchel's team remains totally in control of his destiny, and this is his main merit after an evening where he was big, very small, lucky too, not helped sometimes but still fighting.
In summary, Paris was superior to Mancuniens in the use of the ball but clearly in deficit in the number of chances.
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Parisian realism will therefore have been the good idea of the evening while Anthony Martial will have had the goal opened several times to push his compatriots, if indeed PSG remains a French team with, at kickoff, two Blues, two world champions, moreover, Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappé.
They are hardly any more to apply for a place in the eleven but, there again, the truth is elsewhere.
She is in the strong choices of Thomas Tuchel, depriving himself of Angel Di Maria for the first time at the kickoff in the Champions League since his arrival in the summer of 2018, betting on Abdou Diallo to the left of the defense, relegating Mitchel Bakker and Layvin Kurzawa on the sidelines.
These two are likely to win, disgusted by the decisions of the coach but the result confirms the German technician, a week away from a probable ticket for the round of 16.
He also installed Marquinhos in central defense and Danilo Pereira in midfield, that is to say in their rightful place.
The principle of reality imposed itself on him or he ended up listening to his locker room.
Whatever the solution, Tuchel, by pouring water into his wine and perhaps against himself, has done his team a favor.
It's good, but it's about time.
A valiant state of mind
Paris which would see the European spring is certainly a train that arrives on time but, given the circumstances and the two defeats in three games to begin with, the fact of retaining his destiny draws a victory for Tuchel, who can even still send his training in the first place of the hen.
The ex-Dortmund coach likes to win at Old Trafford, has the recipe in any case, as much as his counterpart, Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer, also twice winner at the Parc des Princes.
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A week after the performance close to nothing during the success against Leipzig (1-0), PSG has recovered.
Not necessarily in the game and over time, but by bringing out a valiant state of mind and values that had eluded it for some time.
It's huge and a few days before the verdict against Istanbul, it's like the good life is back.
Match sheet
Half-time: 1-1.
Game behind closed doors.
Referee:
M. Orsato (Ita).
Goals.
Manchester United: Rashford (32nd).
PSG: Neymar (6th, 90th + 1), Marquinhos (69th).
Warnings.
Manchester United: Fred (22nd, 71st).
PSG: Paredes (37th), Verratti (59th).
Expulsion.
Manchester United: Fred (71st).
Manchester United:
De Gea - Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire (cap.), Telles - Mctominay, Fred - B. Fernandes - Rashford (Pogba, 74th), Cavani (Van De Beek, 79th), Martial (Greenwoog, 79th) .
Entr.
:
Solskjaer.
PSG:
Navas - Florenzi (Kehrer, 78th), Marquinhos (cap.), Kimpembe, A. Diallo (I. Gueye, 89th) - Paredes (Herrera, 65th), Pereira, Verratti (Rafinha, 78th) - Mbappé, Kean ( Bakker, 65th), Neymar.
Entr.
:
Tuchel.