Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought on Mason Greenwood in the 87th minute of Manchester United’s Champions League tie with PSG.
Within minutes, United had the third goal they craved, with Marcus Rashford’s penalty sealing a quarter-final spot.
Greenwood did not have his Federico Macheda debut moment.
Indeed he only touched the ball once. Yet his first hand memory of the 3-1 win will live on forever.
Solskjaer’s process to bring on Greenwood was the right one.
He has been prolific at youth level, and why not roll the dice in a huge game?
What won it for Solskjaer, was the attacking shift. He did not take off a striker, Romelu Lukaku or Marcus Rashford.
Instead he sacrificed Ashley Young to bring Greenwood on.
The natural temptation normally would have been to bring Greenwood on in a like for like substitution for Rashford, swapping one pacey striker for another. Not in this situation.
Thankfully he did not take Rashford off.
Solskjaer showed his attacking philosophy by bringing on an extra striker and going gung-ho for the win.
What’s next
Greenwood will be desperate to build on this and get a more prolonged spell in United’s team.
That’s going to be difficult right now, with Romelu Lukaku in great form and Marcus Rashford too.
United welcome back Anthony Martial this weekend from his return from injury.
This strengthens United’s attacking options, and will make it harder for Greenwood to be involved.
It would be a reality check for Greenwood not to make the bench v Arsenal, but it’s a possibility.
When he does get his chance, he will have to seize it.
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