Louis Saha warns that PSG’s Kylian Mbappe ‘cannot be stopped’

Manchester United will host Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League tie on Tuesday, marking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first outing in the competition as manager.

PSG have been struck with a number of injuries since the round of 16 draw, and Manchester United have seen a huge upturn in their form.

However, former United player Louis Saha believes that PSG will still have too much for them, mainly due to the skills of youngster Kylian Mbappe. 

Louis Saha is a former Manchester United player, but is wary of the threats that PSG pose

‘Paris Saint-Germain are slightly ahead because they kept progressing,’ Saha told Omnisport. ‘They have a player like Mbappe who cannot be stopped.’

The 20-year-old Frenchman is already a World Cup winner, and so far this season he has 18 goals and six assists in 17 Ligue 1 games, already eclipsing his tally of 13 in 17 last season. 

He’s also got himself three goals in his six Champions League matches, and will be looking to add to that against Manchester United on Tuesday. 

However, he won’t have his usual star strike force to help him out, with Neymar and Edinson Cavani both missing through injury. 

Saha believes PSG not only have the edge in players, but also in management. 

Saha says that PSG’s coaching staff, along with head coach Thomas Tuchel, may have the edge

‘Paris Saint-Germain are solid because the head coach brought more stability between defence and attack,’ he said. ‘The coach can easily switch his system, he’s very clever and has great communication. 

‘He has great coaching staff able to identify the opponent’s philosophy. We saw him changing his system several times during a game.’

Manchester United have been performing well in the Premier League of late, but Saha warns that playing the Champions League is completely different. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won 10 out of 11, but this will be his first Champions League outing

‘The Champions League is a different world. We’ve seen it with Liverpool and others. Some were not the best in the league and, once in the Champions League, the cohesion rises. It is not the same. 

‘It is not going to about the one who plays a solid game; that’s not enough in the Champions League. It’s about the players able to play freely, to deal with the transitions and with the pressure of the last minutes of the game.’

Of course, Solskjaer knows a thing or two about that tournament himself. And the interim manager is confident, saying ‘the squad is capable of winning against anyone.’