Manchester United after their "honeymoon period"

To be fair, Manchester United under Solskjaer was much more enjoyable to watch than under Jose Mourinho. With the same players, Solskjaer fundamentally changed the football philosophy, shifting it towards an attacking style based on a well-structured, compact system where the players had to quickly transition from attack to defense and vice versa.

Since Solskjaer took over, Manchester United has been the team with the most points, the most goals scored, and the fewest goals conceded in the Premier League. Of these statistics, the 23 goals MU scored in domestic competitions under Solskjaer stand out. Everything is perfect, like a honeymoon period.

Fire tests gold.

The Champions League is the most exciting competition in world football. It's not a place for novice coaches, and Solskjaer is no exception. The PSG owners understand this better than anyone, which is why they chose Thomas Tuchel to replace Unai Emery.

Before joining PSG, Tuchel also successfully managed Mainz 05 and Dortmund in the Bundesliga and was considered a talented, experienced coach with a track record of top-level matches. Meanwhile, Solskjaer only began his coaching career with Manchester United's youth team, managing Molde in the Norwegian league before being sacked by Cardiff.

Despite the absence of Cavani and Neymar, PSG's two biggest stars, Thomas Tuchel's starting eleven had previously played 589 Champions League matches, more than double Manchester United's 255. Among them, striker Kylian Mbappé had contributed to 14 goals (10 goals, 4 assists) in 11 Champions League games – equaling Ronaldo's record.

Compared to manager Thomas Tuchel, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's experience in competitive matches is far inferior. (Photo: Manchester United)

PSG deployed a very tight defensive system; with just a small adjustment – ​​moving 35-year-old defender Daniel Alves to right midfield in a 4-4-1-1 formation – PSG effectively shut down Manchester United's left flank. The Brazilian's top-level experience neutralized Martial and Pogba, with the World Cup winner even receiving a red card.

PSG also knew how to proactively cede possession, holding the ball, gradually building up play, and waiting for the right moment to attack, keeping goalkeeper De Gea constantly on alert.

Because of their excessive pressing and desire for an attacking game, MU's central midfielders left too much space in their own half. Meanwhile, PSG had many players who were good at handling the ball in tight spaces and escaping pressing impressively, so it was essentially MU inviting the French team to attack them.

Left winger Di María, on his return to Old Trafford, proved Manchester United wrong to let him go with two assists. Central midfielders Verratti and Marquinhos showed Pogba, Matic, and Ander Herrera what attacking through the middle truly looks like. Manchester United's 4-3-3 formation only "wreaked havoc" in English football; it wasn't enough to put pressure on top European teams.

Solskjaer's attacking style is far too simplistic. This is evident in the statistics: Manchester United only managed… 1 shot on target against PSG. This is the lowest number of shots on target for the Red Devils in a home Champions League match since 2005. As Solskjaer himself admitted in the post-match press conference: "Manchester United's current level is clearly below that of the top teams in Europe."

Return to Earth

For the first time in history, Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat at home and face elimination from this year's Champions League. It's only when facing an opponent that demands the manager's talent and the players' cunning that we see the many limitations of Solskjaer's Man United. The "Theatre of Dreams" fell silent in its very first match, a game that requires Man United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to surpass the level of the Premier League.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his players have gone undefeated for 53 days in charge. (Photo: Manchester United)

The reality is that in the "post-Sir Alex" era, only David Moyes has managed to lead MU to a victory in the Champions League knockout rounds. MU's recent form at Old Trafford in the Champions League has also been poor, with two losses, one draw, and only one win.

Therefore, the 0-2 defeat against PSG is nothing to worry about. Perhaps an early exit from the Champions League is even a good thing, allowing the MU players to focus all their efforts on maintaining their position in the Premier League Top 4. If he is appointed as the official head coach by the Man United board and given funds to spend in the upcoming summer transfer window, Man United will return to the Champions League with a new look next season.