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MANCHESTER, March 3 – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his "confident" team could stage a Champions League restart at Paris Saint-Germain this week after a spectacular 3-2 win over Southampton yesterday.
Romelu Lukaku's 89th-minute strike at Old Trafford, his fourth goal in two games, put United back in the top four at Tottenham's Arsenal.
The Solskjaer team will aim to fill a deficit of 2-0 in the 16th final of the Champions League, return leg to PSG Wednesday.
"The locker room was bouncing, they were happy, we are looking forward to Wednesday," said the Norwegian.
"We play against one of the best teams in Europe with players of absolute quality, but who knows? It's already happened, there's so much going back.
"The Champions League has given several returns, PSG Barcelona for example. We have to do it away from home, but we have eight straight wins away.
"We are confident far from home and if we are in the game 20 or 30 minutes from the end, who knows?"
Solskjaer's mentor, Alex Ferguson, became famous for his team's last-minute winners during a golden period featuring the current acting United manager, who won the 1999 World Cup against Bayern Munich.
And the Norwegian seemed to have summoned the minds of the Ferguson era, after United claimed three crucial points against the modest Southampton.
"It was like the good old days," said Solskjaer, whose team now leads Arsenal by one point in the Champions League qualifying race, while Chelsea are four points behind with two games to go.
"I have been a part of it so often. We talked about it at halftime and we said put the ball in the surface and play more forward because the Stretford End will suck it for you.
"I do not want to take anything away from Andreas (Pereira) and Romelu because it's a great finish, but that spirit is part of the history of this club. We have done it so many times before. "
United seemed to be heading for a disappointing home draw in the final moments, when substitute Fred swapped passes with Luke Shaw and found the Lukaku in shape on the edge of the box.
The Belgian striker did the rest with an accuracy of 18 yards in the bottom corner.
Solskjaer could even enjoy the luxury of a missed penalty when Paul Pogba's efforts were saved by Angus Gunn after Stuart Armstrong's trip to Marcus Rashford.
But the final, which extended Solskjaer's undefeated streak of matches with United to 15 games, was very necessary after his team's first appearance in the race to rank in the top four.
Uncontrollable mood
In a game of spectacular goals, Saints James Ward-Prowse scored a superb 25-yard free kick after 74 minutes to put the score at 2-2.
Pereira had tied for United in the 53rd minute by combining Diogo Dalot and Lukaku, forcing the ball to the young Brazilian who had touched the ball before falling to the magnificent goal of Southampton.
After a poor performance in the first period, United was now in an irrepressible mood and took the lead six minutes later through Lukaku.
Pereira showed his strength to stand up against his midfield opponents before clinching a very timed pass for Lukaku, who scored 14 points at the clinic.
The Solskjaer team was impressed by an incredible goal scored in the 26th minute by Yan Valery, the Southampton back winger.
David De Gea had some question marks, while Charlie Austin missed the overlapping 20-year-old, and his 30-yard pristine shot beaten the United goalkeeper to his nearest position.
The dramatic conclusion is partly the result of some of the luck on the part of Solskjaer. At the beginning of the second period, injured Alexis Sanchez found himself injured and forced him to appeal to Dalot, much more influential. – AFP
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