Young says Man Utd spirit can carry them to Champions League comeback

Ashley Young believes Manchester United’s ‘never-say-die’ spirit can carry Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to a historic victory in Paris on Wednesday night.

United’s 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford last month has left their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread. No team has ever progressed in the knockout stage of the competition after losing the first leg at home by two goals or more.

Solskjaer’s task has been made all the more difficult by the absence of up to 10 players with Paul Pogba suspended and Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian all injured.

However Young insists United can confound the odds after seeing the club’s remarkable revival under Solskjaer continue on Saturday when they came from behind to beat Southampton 3-2 and move back into the top-four.

‘It just shows the team spirit we’ve got and the desire to get back into games,’ said the captain. ‘I think we showed that we’ve got that resilience to keep going right to the final whistle. That’s the club’s way, the United way. Never say die.’

Looking ahead to PSG, Young added: ‘We know what we’re capable of. People can write us off. People were writing us off at the start of the season and people are writing us off now. It’s no different.

‘Obviously it’s going to be tough. We’ve got to go over there, win the game and score goals. I’ve got every faith if we defend well and if we create the chance that I know we can do, we can win the game.

‘That’s exactly what it is. We’ve got to go out there and win the game. We can’t worry too much about them, it’s all about us.’

The 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford last month has left their Champions League hopes in danger

Young is ready to lead out an unfamiliar United side at the Parc des Princes with Solskjaer deprived of some of his best players, notably Pogba.

‘We’ve had that for the last couple of games,’ said Young. ‘There have been players who have been missing and at this time of the season it’s not ideal.

‘There are players who are ready to come in and fill their boots. Everyone has got to be ready and I’m sure whoever comes in for Paul will go and do their job the best they can.

‘It’s been tough. It’s never easy when you’ve got so many injuries, but it shows the squad that we’ve got here. There are other people carrying knocks but we’re getting through games. That’s just how the team spirit is.

Young thinks United can make history, despite being without 10 first team players for the game

‘You want to get out there and play and if you’ve got a little knock or whatever you manage yourself right during the week and get ready for the weekend.

‘We’ve still got injuries but we’re still managing to get results. It just shows where we’ve come from to where we are now – grinding out performances, not being at our best, but getting wins.’

Romelu Lukaku will lead the attack in Paris after scoring four goals in his last two games against Crystal Palace and Southampton.

‘I wouldn’t want to play against him!’ said Young. ‘He gives us a different presence. For Rom to get on the score sheet was fantastic for him. He kept up his scoring from midweek.’