“I like this player,” said Lyon manager Rudi Garcia when asked about Edinson Cavani during the international break.
“He’s a great striker and fighter. Paris St Germain lost a lot when they lost Cavani. When you have a top player who is also a great fighter, it’s fantastic. They take the team with them.
"I don’t know how many years Cavani can continue to score goals and stay at the top, but for me it’s a very good opportunity for Manchester.”
And what’s not to like about the 33-year-old all-time PSG top scorer who landed in Manchester last week and started training when most of his new teammates were on international duty?
Cavani’s age, for one. United tried to sign him when he was 26 and failed because of his financial demands and also that he would be the main striker – something the club could not guarantee with Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. Cavani wanted that assurance because he sometimes tired of playing second string to Zlatan Ibrahimovic at PSG.
Ibrahimovic joined United in 2016 and was a success for a season. The hope is that Cavani can be the same – an opportunistic buy who will bring leadership qualities, professionalism and a winning mentality in a squad which needs them.
The Uruguayan is in the frame to figure against PSG on Tuesday in Parc de Princes as both clubs start their 2020-21 Champions League campaign, though it’s more likely to be from the bench. United don’t want to rush someone who had injuries last season and hasn’t featured in a competitive game since April.
But what an asset to have coming on from the bench, especially one who knows more about United’s formidable opponents than anyone else.
PSG reached the Champions League final last season for the first time, United were not even in the competition.
“PSG is a team built to win the Champions League,” Garcia told me recently. “They have no opponent for the league in France. They have two or three players for every position. They have Neymar and (Kylian) M’Bappe and it seems there is a good atmosphere between them. When you have two guys like this playing for each other it’s complicated for the other team. It’s possible to beat them, but normally not.”
Bayern Munich did beat them in the final and Garcia added: “I expected more from Paris St Germain.
"They have great players and two of them, Neymar and M’Bappe, are the best in the world with Messi and Ronaldo. But even for a team like PSG, it’s possible not to be 100 per cent. In that game, experience made the difference. Bayern Munich is used to playing these games and Paris St Germain is not.”
The PSG fixture in the United's last Champions League campaign was the greatest single moment since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became manager.
PSG comfortably won the first leg at Old Trafford, with M’Bappe’s speed and timing too much for United.
M’Bappe scored the second, the first coming from another deeply impressive Parisian, Presnel Kimpembe, having been set up by former United player Angel di Maria – the architect of both goals to inflict Solskjaer’s first defeat as United manager.
They were clear favourites to advance to the quarter finals and their fans speculated about who their opponents would be, as did the French media and PSG as a club – something United noted.
When I asked Solskjaer this year whether he was surprised by what happened that night in Paris, he replied in the negative. “I put a team in my head when I walked out in the stadium the day before. I looked at the players and thought ‘No. I need to play him and him because we have a chance here’. The game went exactly how we planned. We wanted to get to the last 10 minutes with one goal in it. I would have been happy at 1-0 after 80 minutes. We were missing so many that it was impossible for us to go out there and outplay PSG.
“We had to play a clever game and we changed our system in the match. In the first half we played a 4-4-2 with a low block and two low strikers. We had a couple of video sessions. Kieran (McKenna) and Michael (Carrick) were different class. We had a long meeting with Fred and Scott (McTominay). Fred played that system at Shakhtar. We actually used a Shakhtar v Man City game to show him what we wanted him to do. We worked on Marcus and Romelu up front."
Solskjaer felt that PSG were too confident, too comfortable. “We wanted the game to be slow, where they felt they had nothing to push for because they were through. Then we planned to hit them quickly on the break. This team can do that. Fast.
“In the press conference the night before, I wasn’t lying when I said that I thought we could do it. I loved the reaction after that game, the happiness, but we were also mentally and physically tired and we felt it after.”
Newcastle 1 Man Utd 4 - how the players rated
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NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Karl Darlow - 8: Good first-half saves from Mata, Wan-Bissaka and Rashford. Fantastic save from Fernandes penalty just before hour mark and several other impressive stops before limping way through to final whistle with what looked like a thigh injury. PA -
Emil Krafth - 6: Swede’s low cross from right was turned into own net by Shaw after just two minutes. Excellent block on James strike midway through second half summed up his commitment but lost Rashford completely for fourth goal. AFP -
Jamaal Lascelles - 5: Poor header out gave handed United a chance but Rashford’s shot was deflected for corner. In right place to clear Rashford shot off line in first half. Captain was powerless as opponents ran riot at the end. PA -
Federico Fernandez - 6: Too easily outjumped by Maguire when defender equalised for United but won numerous other important tackles and headers. Like the rest of his teammates at the back, lost control at the finish. AP -
Jamal Lewis - 7: Left-back had hands full dealing with Wan-Bissaka’s marauding runs and was dragged out of position by the United full-back for the third goal. Some timely challenges at the back and good attacking runs going forward. Harsh penalty call given against him for slight touch on Rashford. Getty -
Jeff Hendrick - 5: Played in more central role than in previous Newcastle games and did OK without any major game-affecting moment. EPA -
Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Involved in build-up for opening goal but looked off the pace at times in first half. Saw scuffed first-time shot easily saved by De Gea. Better after break as he cleared Maguire header off the line in second half and sent over brilliant cross from right that was crying out for a finish. Saw shot well saved by De Gea. AP -
Isaac Hayden - 6: Had been solid as usual in the Newcastle midfield but limped off injured just after break. PA -
Joelinton - 4: Played in deeper role on right-hand side of midfield. Did very little in first half but one good run and pass to put Wilson through on attack after break. Sloppy in possession at times and frustrating to watch. Doesn't do remotely enough for a £40m player. AFP -
Allan Saint-Maximin - 7: Had Magpie hearts in mouths with risky dribbling in own half early on. Is such a nightmare for defenders when in full flow. Forced excellent save from De Gea with rasping right-foot drive after half an hour. Brilliant run and cross to set up Wilson chance in second half. Reuters -
Callum Wilson - 7: Started move that led to first goal but left very isolated up front for long spells. Denied by wonderful reaction save from De Gea at start of second half. Some excellent hold up play and led line well but needs more support. Getty -
SUBS: Fabian Schar - (On for Hayden 49’) 6: Great ball over to Shelvey on right flank in second half but little impact apart from that. Ryan Fraser - (On for Joelinton 72') 6: Offered more attacking threat than the man he replaced. Miguel Almiron - (On for Hendrick 88') N/A. Getty -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 7: Stranded and looked despairing for opener, hurt shoulder saving from Saint Maximin. Stunning second half save from Callum Wilson. EPA -
Aaron Wan Bissaka - 7: First ever senior goal in football. And what a strike, rising into the roof of the net having been set up by Rashford. Needed the lift after a poor start to the season. Reuters -
Victor Lindelof - 6. Poor positioning for Newcastle’s goal. Steadied like his team, played well and the four goals and a convincing away win should lift his confidence. It’s needed too. EPA -
Harry Maguire - 7: Super header for 23rd minute equaliser. Held his hamstring several times and didn’t look 100 per cent fit but pushed for late goal and shot wide. Good night for him. AFP -
Luke Shaw - 7: Appalling against Spurs, appalling start against Newcastle as he couldn’t adjust his feet and put ball into his own goal. He improved, drove forward and had his best game of a poor season so far. AFP -
Fred - 7: Sometimes too loose, but always wants to move the ball forward. Decent game. EPA -
Scott McTominay - 7: Helped out centre backs, intercepted well and ran until the end. Calmly headed ball back to De Gea from a rare Newcastle counter attack. Got a clearance which led towards the third. Reuters -
Juan Mata - 8: Offside cancelled a Bruno strike, but the Spaniard was lively from the off, United’s biggest threat in the first half and sent over corner for Maguire’s equaliser. Excellent in every game he’s played this season. Combines well with Fernandes and was involved in winner. EPA -
Bruno Fernandes - 8: Sharp. Shame first half ‘goal’ wasn’t given because it was the best move of the game. Shame his weak penalty saved too. Made more passes in final third, attempted more tackles, won more tackles and made more key passes than any other player. Got the key second goal after 86 minutes. Needed it. Super game. EPA -
Daniel James - 7: Livelier than in recent games which is encouraging, but weak end product. Looks beer on left than right. Booked for a heavy challenge. AFP -
Marcus Rashford - 9: Worked hard in the No 9 role and receives ball on half turn more. Lively, direct and quick. Needs to get closer to goal, but won penalty. Beautiful flick to set up the second – and the third. Then he scored the fourth after a superb first touch. Deserved it. Reuters -
SUBS: Paul Pogba - (On for Fred 68') 6. More disciplined than he has been. Donny van de Beek - (On for James 76') 6. Started move which led to winner with two neat passes. Bright. Nemanja Matic - (On for Mata 90+2') N/A. Getty
Again, PSG will be clear favourites though, like United, they had a bumpy start to the season, losing their first two league games – but winning the five since. United beat Newcastle 4-1 on Saturday and while the coaches know they played well, they also know that more stray passes in midfield will be picked up on and punished in Paris.
Parc de Princes was bouncing with noise and colour last time. On Tuesday, the stadium will be almost empty and Paris is facing a 9pm curfew. There will be no packed away end singing in the rain, but with their recent history and so many players having represented both clubs, plus United’s Parisian players Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial, what happens on the pitch will still be intriguing.
United feel there are always goals in their side. Adding Cavani should mean more.
