Solskjaer says comeback simply borne from belief

Norwegian proves he's only choice for Old Trafford job after stunning PSG win

PARIS－Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his players always believed they could pull off a remarkable comeback against Paris Saint-Germain to reach the Champions League quarterfinals.

United lost the first leg 2-0 at Old Trafford but beat the French champion 3-1 in Paris on Wednesday to progress to the last eight on away goals.

"We always believed, that's the thing," said Solskjaer, who scored United's winner in the 1999 final against Bayern Munich.

"We set out the plan, and it wasn't about the ball. The plan was to get the first goal, be in the game with 10 minutes to go."

Romelu Lukaku put United ahead after two minutes and although PSG equalized, the Belgian grabbed his second before halftime and Marcus Rashford's stoppage-time penalty sealed the victory.

It continued United's remarkable transformation since Solskjaer took over as interim manager from Jose Mourinho in December.

The Norwegian, who was hired from Molde in his homeland, now looks a certainty to get the United job on a permanent basis.

"It's been a fantastic time with the players and staff I've got working with me. I'm going to enjoy this job as long as I have it, I'm gonna smile," Solskjaer said. "I'm going to do the job as well as I can.. I'm gonna smile."

That United was without several first-choice players due to injury and suspension, including France midfielder Paul Pogba, made the victory even more surprising.

"The fact we had injuries and suspensions, maybe that was a good thing today because we had a fresh team," Solskjaer said.

Rashford held his nerve under intense pressure to convert his first penalty in a competitive match for United.

"Just keep a cool head, you know. They're the type of things you practice every day. I wanted to take it ... we got the goal, and we're progressing," Rashford said.

"That's probably the hardest thing, the wait before, but it's all part of the game, those moments, you want to get through those moments.

"Everything seemed to be against us, but we're used to surviving in these moments, and today just proved that one more time. We can still improve of course, and keep pushing and keep bettering ourselves."

Solskjaer was not surprised how cool the 21-year-old England striker was ahead of his kick.

"Absolutely fantastic, the kid has got no doubts, when you're young you don't have any fear," he said.

'Cruel' VAR call

Stunned PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said his side's exit was "cruel" but refused to blame the match officials after the late VAR-awarded penalty that decided the tie.

"I am a big supporter of VAR and I stay a big supporter of VAR," said Tuchel.

Having won 2-0 in the first leg last month, the French side wobbled in the return but was still going through until Slovenian referee Damir Skomina gave a stoppage-time penalty for a Presnel Kimpembe handball in the box, after reviewing the images.

A hopeful Diogo Dalot effort hit Kimpembe's arm, and Rashford converted from the spot to send United through on away goals.

"From my point of view I watched Dalot take the shot. I saw the ball flying straight from his foot and for me it was clear that it was going way over the bar," said Tuchel.

"There are many things to discuss before taking the decision and I think it's a 50-50 decision.

"What makes it hard is that I had the clear feeling that the shot was not on target, and to get rewarded with a penalty, there is no logic."

Lukaku's first-half brace had given the visitor hope of an improbable win, but Juan Bernat scored in between to keep PSG on course.

"You can say that we played on this thin line for 60 minutes knowing that if we don't score, we can blame it," Tuchel added.

The German said the manner of the defeat, after his club had dominated much of the game, was "perhaps impossible to analyze".

Neymar rages

PSG superstar Neymar, who is recovering from injury and watched from the sideline as the penalty was taken, disagreed with the call, and angrily blasted the officials on his Instagram account.

"This is a disgrace!" he wrote. "And they put four guys that do not understand football to watch it in slow motion."

Neymar also aimed an expletive at the officials.

PSG is the runaway Ligue 1 leader, but this is the third year running in which it has exited the Champions League at the last-16 stage.

"If it were a league game you would wipe your mouth and go on, but today it's horrible and cruel," Tuchel said. "It happens once in 100 games. We did not deserve to go out over 180 minutes, but that makes it not easier to deal with."

Reuters/AFP