Earps Return 'talk Of Manchester' But Middleton-patel Steals Show

Manchester United's triumph complete Paris St-Germain was a important 1 - but speech before, during and aft nan Women's Champions League lucifer was dominated by goalkeepers.

Mary Earps' long-awaited return to Old Trafford was nan talk of Manchester - not conscionable because of her stature arsenic a subordinate - but because of nan contention surrounding nan merchandise of her autobiography and nan consequent fallout.

She started successful extremity for French visitors PSG but her successor arsenic Manchester United's number one, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, was a astonishment omission from Marc Skinner's squad pinch a facial injury.

It meant conscionable a 2nd United commencement for 21-year-old Safia Middleton-Patel - her first nine quality successful Europe and Old Trafford debut - pinch large boots to fill.

News of Tullis-Joyce's absence was passed connected to United's players connected matchday, pinch Middleton-Patel thrust into 1 of nan club's biggest games this play astatine short notice.

In beforehand of 14,667 astatine Old Trafford - their biggest crowd this play - she was tasked pinch keeping retired a PSG broadside who had reached 4 of nan past 5 semi-finals successful nan competition.

Two minutes in, she was fixed a crisp reminder of wherever she was erstwhile Jennifer Echegini's powerful effort bounced backmost disconnected nan wrong of her near post.

This is simply a title for Europe's elite and was a measurement up from Middleton-Patel's only erstwhile quality for United - a Women's League Cup fixture against second-tier broadside Newcastle United.

However, she did correspond Wales astatine this summertime Euros - acquisition which intelligibly stood her successful bully stead connected his stage.

"She was my subordinate of nan match. What you can't measurement is nan psychological magnitude she has had to jump," Skinner said of her display.

"From that capacity [against Newcastle] to this, really she has matured complete nan past year, is in installments to her and nan staff.

"She was conscionable stood astatine nan passageway [at full-time] and taking it in. Really good done to her. She deserves to guidelines out."

Middleton-Patel quickly settled in, showing her pedigree pinch a superb second-half prevention to push Anais Ebayilin's onslaught connected to nan station and retired for a corner.

It came conscionable a infinitesimal aft Olga Carmona had equalised for PSG to make it 1-1. United went connected to regain their lead done Fridolina Rolfo, adding to Melvine Malard's superb early opener.

"When I recovered retired Phallon wasn't going to commencement nan game, I said I believed successful her. I wanted Safia to beryllium herself," added Skinner.

"She is simply a bully footballer truthful she calms nan build-up. She took it successful her stride. I'm honestly really proud of her.

"She had a fewer nerves and I deliberation [United forward] Rachel Williams did immoderate prima jumps pinch her truthful she sewage nan power out. But she took it really well.

"She will ever beryllium portion of nan history successful our first Champions League crippled astatine Old Trafford. She deserves that romanticist part, because that's lovely."

While Middleton-Patel stole nan show by nan extremity of nan night, it was Earps who was nan attraction earlier kick-off.

The mural of Earps, painted extracurricular Old Trafford pursuing her heroics pinch England astatine Euro 2022, bore a 'Welcome to Manchester' connection which felt riddled pinch irony arsenic she stepped retired successful nan pouring bluish rainfall successful nan opponent's colours.

She was a heroine to galore during her clip astatine United and played a cardinal domiciled successful nan club's first FA Cup victory, and their emergence up nan Women's Super League table.

This clip she was a shot enemy, arriving successful a unreality of controversy, and received boos erstwhile her sanction was publication retired by nan stadium announcer.

More boos followed erstwhile she touched nan ball, mixed successful pinch immoderate cheers from loyal followers, until she yet received nan adulation of nan Old Trafford crowd erstwhile she walked on nan stands applauding them astatine full-time, and was warmly received successful return.

"A batch of nan nationalist has awesome liking successful seeing Mary play. I'm very happy to person a subordinate for illustration her successful our team," said PSG leader Paulo Cesar afterwards.

"The fans present were intelligibly down her. At nan beginning, possibly not, but by nan extremity of nan crippled her value shone through.

"She put successful a awesome capacity coming and she gives assurance to nan team. I'm very happy pinch her."

Skinner said successful his pre-match media convention he expected nan United fans to make life difficult for Earps arsenic an opponent, but hoped she would person nan respect she earned during her five-year spell astatine nan nine earlier leaving successful 2024.

When she near nan transportation to cheers from nan location fans and hugs from erstwhile team-mates, nan contention of nan past 2 weeks surrounding her book felt a distant memory.

"It was nice. I said to her astatine nan extremity to look aft herself. Mary is simply a really intelligent female and she has been nan world's champion truthful she understands it," said Skinner.

"It was a beautiful ambiance and she sewage a cheer erstwhile she walked down astatine nan extremity of nan game, and hopefully that helps her successful nan business and really she feels.

"After nan crippled it was ever going to beryllium friends pinch Mary, because she was a large portion of what we person done - and we should ne'er hide that."