Manchester United’s defensive line, which did not play Harry Maguire, was suddenly solid against Paris Saint-Germain in the first Group H match of the Champions League at the Parc des Princes Stadium, Wednesday (21/10).
Due to the slick performance in front of David de Gea, the Red Devils won the first three points after defeating PSG 2-1.
Solskjaer’s decision not to bring Maguire to Paris was initially surprising. Because so far, the Red Devils do not have a good profile as a center-back.
Many people only see that the only quality Manchester United center-backs are Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly. But the three appearances this season have never been consistent.
What’s more, the opponent that Manchester United is facing this time is PSG, last season’s Champions League runner-up who has great ammunition like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
With Maguire, who is actually the most expensive defender and the mainstay of the English national team, Manchester United is often overstretched, especially without the former Leicester City player who has been the mainstay of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
In fact, the visitors’ defensive appearance at the Paris match seemed to have turned 360 degrees and was suddenly pleasing to the eye.
Solskjaer plays a 5-3-2 scheme using two wingbacks: Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right, and new player Alex Telles on the left. Meanwhile, the three central defenders are filled with Victor Lindelof, Axel Tuanzebe, and Luke Shaw.
In the course of the match, three center-backs and two Manchester United wingbacks won a lot over PSG’s attack line which was inhabited by Neymar, Mbappe and Angel Di Maria.
PSG’s trident could hardly move freely in this match. Neymar, who played from the left sector, was often turned off by Wan-Bissaka and Tuanzebe. Di Maria, who was used to moving from the right, was also like being locked by Shaw and Telles.
Likewise with Mbappe as PSG’s center forward. The movement of the French national team striker was always tightly pressed by Tuanzebe when he entered the penalty box.
Tuanzebe is the star of the Manchester United defense against PSG. The 22-year-old defender’s focus is Neymar and Mbappe. The Congolese player played tactically against stars like Mbappe and Neymar.
Tuanzebe’s statistics against PSG are 100 percent winning aerial duels, 92 percent passing accuracy, to make 7 clean sweeps.
The Manchester United academy dropout who played for Aston Villa was in fact able to keep up with Mbappe and Neymar’s speed, so he rarely endangered De Gea’s goal. On a number of occasions, Tuanzebe also made the right decisions, throwing the ball away to avoid chaos in his own defense.
Lindelof, who usually blunders and appears chaotic when paired with Maguire, also plays discipline, although in fact his role is not much seen, because of Tuanzebe’s stunning action.
Manchester United’s defense against PSG is not flawless. Neymar and Mbappe had entered the penalty box for Bruno Fernandes and friends several times. However, the slick communication at the back line for Manchester United, made Mbappe and Neymar unable to score goals.
Compared to Neymar, Mbappe has more movements in the Manchester United penalty box. It’s just that, if Wan-Bissaka and Tuanzebe are not disturbed, Mbappe’s chances can be countered by David de Gea who happens to be doing well in that match.
The Manchester United back line that stood in front of the penalty box made it easy for De Gea to neutralize opportunities from Mbappe, Neymar and Di Maria. Les Parisiens trio’s deadly shots from outside the penalty box were countered without difficulty by De Gea to secure the Red Devils’ goal from being conceded.
The only goal that came against the Spanish goalkeeper was from the suicide of Anthony Martial who mis-anticipated Neymar’s corner.
Due to his slick appearance in defense, Manchester United’s attacking sector was able to focus on breaking through the PSG defense which was not that solid.
Pressure from Marcus Rashford, Martial and Bruno Fernandes succeeded in making United win 2-1 and took home three points. Martial became an actor in the birth of a penalty that Fernandes could have executed well.
Before the match broke up, it was Rashford’s turn to put his name on the scoreboard after receiving Paul Pogba’s mature feed.
After the match against PSG, Tuanzebe’s duet with Lindelof seems to be more realistic for Solskjaer and Manchester United in the continuation of the 2020/2021 season, compared to playing Maguire again.
