Chapter 861: Neymar
"Our luck is unbelievable!" Rui Faria muttered, stunned.
If not for the woodwork, the numbers say United would already have conceded at least three—each one by Anthony Martial—United's former forward was terrifying tonight.
Faria didn't know Martial well; he'd arrived with José Mourinho at United, and not long after, Martial transferred to Paris Saint-Germain.
"It's our club legends blessing us from above," Mourinho joked.
"Absolutely," Faria nodded with solemn conviction.
The year 2020 had been a sad one for Manchester United: five club greats passed away.
On February 17, legendary goalkeeper Harry Gregg died—Munich air disaster survivor and a vital member of Sir Matt Busby's rebuilt side, he made over 200 appearances for the Red Devils.
On June 8, Tony Dunne, a 535-appearance full-back who helped win the club's first European Cup in 1968, passed away—an unsung hero of the 1960s and one of United's greatest full-backs.
On October 30, World Cup winner and United icon Nobby Stiles died; he made 311 appearances from 1960 to 1971, a key part of the 1968 European champions, and was an MBE.
On November 12, former United forward Albert Quixall passed away; between 1958 and 1964 he made 184 appearances, scored 56 goals, and lifted the 1963 FA Cup—the club's first major trophy after Munich.
On November 23, club great Maurice Setters died; the winger made 194 appearances from 1960 to 1964, helped win the 1963 FA Cup, and often captained United on the pitch.
...
Whether it was the penalty off the post early in the second half or not, PSG's players clearly sagged; their attacking shape frayed, and above all their on-field talisman Martial looked a different man—less lively, less exuberant than before the break.
"Three times off the frame—Martial's clearly shaken," Andy Gray said. "He's short on belief now; even when he has a shooting lane, he looks to pass it to Julian Draxler or Mauro Icardi."
PSG's tempo dipped; United surged. In under ten minutes they created two looks—one Bruno long-range effort that Keylor Navas pushed away, and a Kylian Mbappé cut-in that whisked past the post.
PSG fans felt a chill—one more United goal, and PSG would be out.
A 4–1 first-leg lead at home, and now facing a possible away collapse? Again?
...
Again, because PSG had prior scars.
In the 2016–2017 Round of 16, PSG met Barcelona. Unai Emery's side crushed them 4–0 in Paris—Ángel Di María with a brace, Draxler and Edinson Cavani with one each.
At the Camp Nou, Barcelona launched an improbable revolt. After 150 seconds, Luis Suárez headed them in front; on 40 minutes, Layvin Kurzawa scored an own goal—2–0; at 48, Lionel Messi converted a penalty to make it 3–4 on aggregate; Cavani then struck on 62 to restore PSG's 5–3 aggregate cushion; at 88, Neymar arced a free kick into the top-left—4–5; at 89, another Neymar penalty tied the aggregate at 5–5 but left Barcelona behind on away goals; then, in the 95th minute, Sergi Roberto lunged in to make it 6–1 on the night and 6–5 overall—one of the greatest turnarounds ever.
Even earlier, in 2000–2001, PSG blew a three-goal lead.
On March 7, 2001, in the second group stage, Super Depor hosted PSG. By 55 minutes, PSG led 3–0 through Jay-Jay Okocha and a Leroy brace; then Deportivo roared back—sub Diego Tristán headed one, Walter Pandiani came on to complete a headed hat-trick, and it finished 4–3 to Deportivo.
Now, a third stunning reversal seemed possible.
...
At 71 minutes, it remained 2–0 to United at home.
And more than that, PSG—so dominant in the first half—were losing control. United pressed in waves.
PSG grew flustered.
At 72 minutes, Mauricio Pochettino finally moved: off came the rattled Martial; on came Brazil's Neymar.
Almost simultaneously, Mourinho changed too: Mason Greenwood for İlkay Gündoğan, United shifting to a 4-2-4—one last, all-in gambit.
"Both sides adjust," Andy Gray said. "Pochettino turns to Neymar; United unleash the lightning-quick academy product Greenwood. PSG want a goal to steady the tie; United need just one to flip it. Both are going for it—thrilling!"
"What should've been a routine second leg now has the tension of a final," Martin Tyler observed.
...
The broadcast cut to Neymar in close-up—the Brazilian superstar who joined PSG in 2017 for a record €220 million, yet whose Paris story has been turbulent.
Neymar—a rock star name in football. At Barcelona, he seemed touched by the divine, the ball singing to his feet and defenders losing their bearings. Few imagined that in Paris his tale would swell and dip so dramatically—called by many one of the most costly misfires.
The signing was a financial earthquake and an emotional carnival. PSG fans dreamed the Brazilian prodigy would replicate his La Liga brilliance, leading their constellation of talent to that elusive Champions League crown.
He started well, but injuries darkened the journey.
A metatarsal fracture cost him the final 16 matches of his first PSG season, including the second leg against Real Madrid in the Round of 16. Another foot injury then sidelined him for 16 straight at the end of 2018/2019, and again PSG fell at the last-16 hurdle.
Last season and this, the health woes multiplied. Especially this season, stop-start fitness saw him miss 22 matches already.
Across four PSG seasons, injuries cost him 98 club matches—on average, over 20 per year.
In none of those four seasons did he reach 30 appearances.
...
He became the modern game's emblem of fragility.
Among today's top-line megastars, Bruno and Cristiano Ronaldo are iron men—other than planned rotation, they almost never miss out.
Neymar inhabits the opposite pole—one step forward, one step back.
Before tonight, he had only just returned from five weeks out with adductor pain.
Pochettino hadn't planned to use him—doctors suggested another week's rest would be wiser.
But backed into a corner and with Martial mentally frayed, Pochettino rolled the dice and rushed Neymar back.
And even granted his glass body, when Neymar is on the pitch, he remains a threat of the highest order.
...
On the left touchline, Neymar received with N'Golo Kanté marking.
A couple of taps between left and right, then a languid lay-off to Paredes before sprinting beyond; Paredes popped it up.
A dinked pass.
João Cancelo stepped in to challenge on Neymar's anticipated touch, but Neymar lifted his left boot and let the ball skip on—no trap at all.
Cancelo froze—was that a mistake?
The ball dropped; Neymar turned slightly, lifted his right foot, and flicked it again, popping the ball upward.
He rolled his frame into Cancelo, spun, juggled twice in the air to settle the path—then, with the rhythm set, ripped a volley with the outside of his right boot.
(END CHAPTER)
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