Manchester United were given a hard lesson against Paris Saint Germain at Old Trafford, though it seemed as though they were architects of their own downfall with this defeat that takes qualification matters to the final group game.

A few gilt-edged chances were squandered before the visitors made them pay, and then Fred was sent off after a performance which threatened a red card much earlier; a defeat against last year’s finalists shouldn’t feel like the end of the world, but once again it felt like many of the obvious limitations the club came into the season with were present on a frustrating evening.

United placed much emphasis on qualifying for this competition – so much so that three managers have been dismissed for failures, or inevitable failures, to qualify for it. Having got there, the board failed to sufficiently back the manager, and the obvious weaknesses in a disjointed squad were on show.

United have invited the discussion that they are better on the road in bigger games than at Old Trafford and that argument was given the perfect evidence in the sixth minute; Mbappe danced past an apology of a challenge from McTominay and the ball deflected kindly for Neymar, who finished very smartly on the angle.

De Gea was forced into action when Maguire’s defensive header went up but nowhere; so too did Fred’s rash attempt at a clearance, and Florenzi tried his luck. Florenzi then whipped in a superb ball for Neymar, but the Brazilian was unable to get on to it.

A difficult evening’s work was almost made into an uphill climb when Fred moved his head towards Parades; it looked an obvious butt, and seemed as if it would be a definite red, but the referee gave him a yellow.

Sometimes, it seems as though United can be guilty of overthinking or overplaying; it suits their purpose better to take more impulsive chances. Both sides of this were proven just after the half hour. Martial fashioned a decent chance but it was comfortable for Navas from range. However, from the palmed save, United continued to attack. Rashford got the ball on the edge of the box and took a pot-shot; the speculative approach worked, ad the ball deflected off Danilo and wrong-footed the goalkeeper. 1-1.

GOAL! #MUN 1-1 #PSG (@MarcusRashford) pic.twitter.com/Cw6nwnCsmV

— Muhavi Kibidi Jr. 🔴⚪⚫⚽ (@Timmokibidi) December 2, 2020

From that moment until half-time there were two running battles; Paredes was booked as he did his level best to get Fred dismissed, and Neymar was keen for Scott McTominay to be sent from the field too, judging by his behaviour. The best opening before the break came when a long ball found Fernandes in a great position; the schemer was caught in two minds and made the rare wrong call to play the ball to Cavani, who was not anticipating the lay-off.

Martial had less room for excuse than Fernandes, when, just after half-time, exceptional work between Rashford and Cavani presented a golden opportunity for the number 9. Martial, however, fired the ball well over with all the goal to aim at.

A few minutes later, Martial was denied again; another good opportunity, this time snuffed out by Marquinhos, after Cavani had hit the crossbar with a chipped effort.

Marquinhos then clipped the crossbar with a header, demonstrating the danger the visitors still held on the counter. Then Bakker tested De Gea, who had to be at his best to push the ball around the post. From the resultant corner, the ball cannoned around the United defence, eventually falling at the feet of Marquinhos in the six yard box. This time he made no mistake, and it was United who were made to pay for their own profligacy.

Straight after kick-off, another mistake was punished; Fred actually won the ball in a tackle with Ander Herrera, but United fans have been used to seeing Herrera make the most in such situations, and the Brazilian was finally sent from the field. The wisdom of Solskjaer sending him back on to the field in the second half was duly questioned. When it came down to it, it didn’t seem as if the individual incident was bad enough to warrant a yellow, but this was the tightrope Fred was walking and the position he had put his team in. It was fatal.

Paul Pogba was brought on for Rashford, who came off with a knock; the Frenchman tasked with the sort of responsible and disciplined inspiration rarely seen in the four years since he returned to Old Trafford. He almost provided it within minutes – a wonderful volley from the edge of the box flew just over.

But that was brief hope that was soon cruelly extinguished by a business-like Paris response. Their rapier-like pace cut through the defence with Mbappe – who fired wide first, but then chose the right pass on the second break. Neymar was present to tap into an empty net and make it 3-1 in injury time.

United head to Germany needing a draw to qualify; they are going to need an improvement from this evening’s outing.

Selection

No Pogba, no Van De Beek. But there was also no questioning Solskjaer’s ambition to win the game with the front four players he selected.

If you had cause to raise an eyebrow it would be within the parameters of what we would normally question and not anything brought up by this particular game – such as the wisdom of selecting Lindelof and a midfield of McTominay and Fred. Then again, Solskjaer would have been within his rights to offer strong responses.

United have many players who have some qualities but not all the desirable, hence the horses for courses approach by Solskjaer. In away games they seem able to combine to be greater than the sum of their parts but in home games they always appear hamstrung by their limitations and incompatibility.

If you have defenders who are slow or uncomfortable on the ball; midfielders who aren’t skilled at passing and dictating the pace of the game; and young forwards who lack in the conviction that often comes with experience, then in these top games these elements can be decisive. Cruel – but decisive.

So United are handicapped by the poor recruitment that has resulted in a squad that isn’t equipped for this level being exposed by the better teams in it; but the question marks are also asked of Solskjaer’s use of the team within the game.

He decided to stick with Fred and for a while it seemed the smart move as United were controlling the game. It was, however, turning away from them from the minute Herrera came on and decided to ramp up the agitation. That should have been the moment to change – Solskjaer was then making desperation moves as Rashford’s injury influenced the nature of the changes he went on to make.

Not a great night for the manager but also a hard reminder of the hand he was dealt and the level United are at.

Ratings

De Gea 6

Wan-Bissaka 6

Lindelof 6

Maguire 6

Telles 6

McTominay 7

Fred 5

Rashford 6

Fernandes 6

Martial 5

Cavani 6

Subs :

Pogba

Van De Beek

Greenwood

Ighalo