League Cup: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urges Manchester United to recall PSG 'memory' in bid to reach final

A 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford leaves United with a mountain to climb in the second leg at the Etihad on Wednesday

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has called on Manchester United to "go into the memory bank" and emulate their comeback victory against Paris Saint-Germain when they face rivals Manchester City in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final.

United face an uphill battle after losing the first leg against Pep Guardiola's men 3-1 at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford's goal gives United a glimmer of hope heading to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday and Solskjaer said the stunning comeback win against PSG in the Champions League last March can be an inspiration.

United were 2-0 down after the first leg and then 3-1 down on aggregate in Paris before storming back to win on away goals.

"Well, it looked like it was over at half-time," he said, referring to the first leg of the City match. "I have to say the second part of that first half, they outplayed us for a while and it's hard.

"But then when we got the goal, of course you're back in it, we hope for another one.

"Now we've got to go into the memory bank and think PSG because we've done it against good teams before and it gives us some hope, and the game in December [when United won 2-1 against City] of course gives us hope that we can do something there."

Solskjaer confirmed Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic is a doubt for the second leg in a press conference that included plenty of transfer talk but no updates.

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes reportedly remains a target for the club, while a number of enquiries have been made as United look at possible attacking options.

Among those is Genk's Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge, who was reported to have arrived at United's training complex, Carrington, on Tuesday to undertake a medial ahead of a proposed move.

Alexis Sanchez would have been an option but does not have a recall clause in his loan deal, although Solskjaer expects him to have an Old Trafford future when he returns from Inter Milan at the end of the season.

"We've got players here we're working hard to get back as well and if there is something out there, then the club are pursuing that and looking at it," said the Norwegian manager.

"Of course it is a difficult window. It always has been. I can't remember how many good ones we've brought in, good deals that we've brought in in January. Henrik [Larsson] was good, Nemanja [Vidic] and Patrice [Evra] were two good ones."