Herrera remains optimistic despite demoralising PSG defeat

Manchester United faces a tall order to reach the Champions League quarterfinals, but Ander Herrera believes the team should not give up hope.

Published : Feb 13, 2019 09:46 IST

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera.
Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera.
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Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera.

Ander Herrera  insisted  Manchester United  must still believe it can turn around its Champions League tie with  Paris Saint-Germain,  despite suffering a 2-0 defeat at home in the first leg.

Presnel Kimpembe  and  Kylian Mbappe  scored in the second half as PSG overcame the absences of  Edinson Cavani  and  Neymar  to triumph at Old Trafford.

The reverse was United's heaviest at home in European competition, while no side in the history of the Champions League has ever progressed from a knockout tie having lost the home first leg by two or more goals.

But Herrera pointed to the side's recent run of good form as a reason to remain optimistic.

United has recorded away wins over Tottenham and Arsenal - beating the latter in the FA Cup - under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, though Tuesday's result was the Norwegian's first defeat since taking over on an interim basis.

READ:  Man United 0 PSG 2: Pogba sent off as Solskjaer suffers first loss

"I think the game was tight until the corner [from which Kimpembe scored]. After the first goal they played the way they wanted," Herrera said. 

"After the first goal everything changes, it was under control and we were better until that moment. The game could have finished 0-0 if they hadn't scored from that corner, but they did.

"After that they played on the counter, they have very quick players, but it was tight until the corner.

"Now we have good examples, having won at Spurs and Arsenal - big teams, big games, and we will try to win away. We all are very optimistic and positive, it's just one result and we're in a good moment. We're going to continue.

"It's a tough night and tomorrow will be a tough day but our focus is to stay in the top four and stay in the FA Cup."

United is next in action in the FA Cup, as it visits Chelsea in the fifth round of the competition. 

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