‘They deserve respect for fighting and believing until the end’: Cesc Fabregas defends Manchester United after former Arsenal team-mate Julio Baptista claims they were ‘lucky’ to beat PSG in Champions League
- Cesc Fabregas says Manchester United ‘deserve respect’ after defeating PSG
- The Spaniard responded to Julio Baptista’s claims that United were ‘lucky’ to win
- In a tweeted exchange, Baptista criticised United for their defensive approach
- Fabregas defended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and praised his team’s fighting spirit
Cesc Fabregas says Manchester United ‘deserve respect’ after former Arsenal team-mate Julio Baptista claimed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were ‘lucky’ to beat PSG.
The pair exchanged tweets on Wednesday night after United’s dramatic 3-1 victory at Parc des Princes.
Fabregas and Baptista played together at Arsenal during the 2006/07 season and hold contrasting views about the Red Devils’ Champions League last-16 win.
Cesc Fabregas (left) and Julio Baptista (centre) took to Twitter to discuss Man United’s victory over PSG – here they are pictured together celebrating a goal for Arsenal in 2007
The former Arsenal striker was critical of the Red Devils’ defensive style at Parc des Princes
Fabregas defended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and praised United for their fighting spirit
Baptista tweeted: ‘Football has those things!!! For the next round a Manchester without merit, who just played and defended the whole game, counting on luck to beat PSG.
‘The Manchester being great as it is can not afford play like that if you want to win a Champions League.’
Monaco midfielder Fabregas replied in defence of the Red Devils, tweeting: ‘Julito, how are you my friend? Each one plays with their weapons and United had at least 8 casualties of very important players.
Romelu Lukaku gave United the lead after just two minutes, rounding keeper Gianluigi Buffon
‘Boys from the youth team played in the last 20 because they did not have anything else. Have you been lucky? Yes. But they deserve respect for fighting and believing until the end.’
Romelu Lukaku continued his fine form by giving United the lead after just two minutes in Paris, rounding home keeper Gianluigi Buffon before sliding in from an acute angle.
The hosts equalised 10 minutes later when Juan Bernat tapped in Kylian Mbappe’s low cross, restoring their two-goal aggregate lead.
Marcus Rashford converted from the spot in stoppage-time as United won on away goals
The penalty was controversially awarded after referee Damir Skomina consulted VAR
United were handed a second goal on 30 minutes after Buffon spilled Rashford’s dipping shot, with Lukaku stabbing in.
Solskjaer’s men absorbed pressure in the second half but were handed a golden opportunity to score a winning goal in stoppage time.
Referee Damir Skomina ruled that Diogo Dalot’s shot had been handled by Presnel Kimpembe after consulting VAR, and Rashford converted from the spot.
United players embrace after reaching the Champions League quarter-finals in dramatic style
