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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Edinson Cavani’s presence allowed Manchester United to play more directly in their 4-1 Champions League win over Istanbul Basaksehir.
The 33-year-old Cavani made his first start at United with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford on the wings and Bruno Fernandes in the role of playmaker, as Solskjaer made just two changes to the team that worked for the win against West. Brom.
Although Cavani did not score on his United debut, his experience as a forward striker was evident as United took 16 shots on goal in another impressive European display at Old Trafford.
“Sometimes I thought there were some excellent attacks,” Solskjaer said. “One-touch or two-touch football. We started well by turning the team around, hitting some crosses, which is something we haven’t been known for lately.
“But with Edinson there is a different center forward there and some of the attacks; the last goal was a good example of one or two touch football, very happy.
“Edinson and Donny [van de Beek] They did very well, both of them, I think the whole team did very well, we found our positions, the rhythm with the ball was very good.
“We deserved the win after that first half. The second half is always different and it’s hard to keep up when you’re winning 3-0.”
United only need one point to secure qualification for the round of 16 and host Paris Saint-Germain next Wednesday. PSG beat RB Leipzig on Tuesday night to finish second in the group and have six points after four games, the same as the Bundesliga team.
United’s last group stage game will be in Leipzig on December 8. “The group is still very open,” Solskjaer acknowledged. “We have nine (points), two with six and Basaksehir with three. We still need points, probably one should be enough and you might give you the victory (of the group).
“So I hope it’s two against PSG and we can secure the points we need, but that’s another matter.”
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