Man United: Solskjaer ‘always believed’ they could defeat PSG
That’s because the Norwegian used Ajax’s triumph as an example to his United players as they came from behind themselves in the Champions League.
On Tuesday night, Dutch outfit Ajax came from 2-1 down to beat defending European champions Madrid - thrashing them 4-1 in the second leg at the Bernabeu to reach the quarter finals.
And Red Devils caretaker boss Solskjaer has revealed that he used their result in his pre-match team talk to his United squad to prove to them that comebacks are possible in the competition.
Last night, United came from 2-0 down on aggregate, winning 3-1 in dramatic circumstances at the Parc des Princes to dump French champions PSG out.
Marcus Rashford scored a 94th-minute penalty that was controversially awarded after VAR consultation to send United through on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw.
It was the first time in the entire history of the European Cup that a team has lost 2-0 at home in the first leg but overcome that deficit to progress to the next stage.
That was despite United being without 10 first-team stars due to injury and suspension, with Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Nemanja Matic all unavailable.
And Solskjaer told his post-match press conference: “It’s the Champions League. That’s what it does.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Man Utd always believed they could beat PSG (Image: GETTY)
Ajax knocked out Real Madrid the previous night in the Champions League (Image: GETTY)
Manchester United recorded a memorable victory over PSG (Image: GETTY)
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We saw last night, Ajax vs Real Madrid. That was our team talk.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
“We saw last night, Real Madrid vs Ajax. That was our team talk.
“It was probably their team talk as well.
“Last year, it was Real Madrid vs Juventus, that was close, the year before Paris against Barcelona.
“We always know that it’s possible and with this club, this is what we do. That’s just Man United.”
Rashford’s late winner, and the subsequent final whistle, were met with jubilant celebrations in front of the away end.
In the dressing room afterwards, legendary United boss Sir Alex Ferguson congratulated the players having been in the stands to watch his former striker Solskjaer oversee a monumental win.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lapped up the praise of the Man Utd fans post-match (Image: GETTY)
Manchester United are into the quarter finals for the first time since 2013-14 (Image: GETTY)