If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to add a Champions League trophy as manager to the one he won as a player with Manchester United, his side are going to have to turn the tide of history.
United go into the second leg of their round of 16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain having lost the first game 2-0 at Old Trafford.
Before United, 34 teams have lost their first leg at home by two or more goals and none have managed to progress.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United must make history to reach the quarter finals
In Champions League history – since the competition was re-branded in 1992 – there have been 89 previous instances of a team losing by two or more goals in the first leg of a knockout tie.
Of those, only 12 progressed – a rate of just 13.5 per cent – and all were at home in the second leg, unlike United, who have to perform their comeback in Paris.
So where will the game be won or lost, and what will be the deciding factors in whether United can pull off a miracle? Sportsmail takes a look…
United train in Paris ahead of facing PSG, trailing 2-0 after the Champions League first leg
Will Romelu Lukaku fire them through?
It looked initially as though Lukaku would be the high profile casualty of change brought by Solskjaer when he replaced Jose Mourinho – left out of his first two games and making only one start across December and January under the Norwegian, as Marcus Rashford filled the No 9 role.
This seems to have lit a fire in Lukaku, who on his return to the side has been in electric form, with four goals in his last two games. Another double, against PSG, would be ideal.
The greatest criticism of Lukaku remains that he is a flat track bully who cannot produce against the best. Having proved the doubters wrong on one point, he will be desperate to do it again.
Romelu Lukaku, with four goals in his last two games, will be looking to fire United again
United’s makeshift midfield
Any attempt on a historic comeback has been further hampered by United missing a slew of essential players either injured or suspended, especially in midfield.
Paul Pogba was sent off in the first leg, Alexis Sanchez could miss two months with a knee injury picked up on Saturday, while Juan Mata, Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Matteo Darmian are all out. Phil Jones has been unwell, while Anthony Martial missed the last three games.
Solskjaer could be forced the pick a midfield diamond featuring Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira, unfavoured £52million summer signing Fred, and full back Diogo Dalot.
Full back Diogo Dalot could be forced into midfield amid United suffering an injury crisis
How do you deal with Kylian Mbappe?
For an hour, United had not exactly kept Mbappe quiet, but they had contained him well enough. Then, in a few seconds and over about 15 yards, he tipped the tie perhaps irrevocably in PSG’s favour.
Mbappe’s lightning dash between Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly to tuck away Angel di Maria’s low cross for 0-2 showed just how tough it is to defend against a player who is flourishing outside the injured Neymar’s shadow.
Mbappe, 20, has 14 goals in the Champions League — more than any other player under the age of 21 in the competition’s history. A World Cup winner already, and surely a European club champion in the near future.
Kylian Mbappe’s goal at Old Trafford showed how he can turn a game with a single sprint
The kids are all right
Mbappe is a young talent already established, however United are putting their faith in youth after calling up five teenagers for Wednesday night’s game.
They have six first team games between them – winger Angel Gomes, 18, has appeared three times, was United’s youngest player since Duncan Edwards, and was the first player born post-2000 to appear in the Premier League.
James Garner, a 17-year-old grandly described as ‘Michael Carrick with goals’, has played twice, while midfielder Tahith Chong, 19, made his first team bow against Reading in the FA Cup.
Striker Mason Greenwood, 17, and left back Brandon Williams, 18, are yet to make their senior debuts. None are likely to start, but any could appear to live their dream.
(L to R): Youngsters James Garner, Mason Greenwood, Brandon Williams and Tahith Chong
Is this PSG’s year?
It is a given that PSG will dominate in France – they are 17 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 with 23 wins in 26, and hold both domestic cups. It is the Champions League their Qatari owners crave.
Following Real Madrid’s embarrassing exit, with Juventus on the verge and none of the other big beasts truly standing out, there is a different atmosphere around PSG in this year’s competition – not the side who imploded so spectacularly in the 6-1 loss at Barcelona in 2017, or who exited so meekly at the Bernabeu last year.
Manager Thomas Tuchel commands the respect of the dressing room, but knows it is win or bust in Europe. Another humiliating comeback loss, and PSG are back to square one.
Thomas Tuchel commands the respect of the dressing room, but it is win or bust in Europe