Old Trafford Public Intimidation Does Not Affect Angel Di Maria

DBasia.news –  PSG (Paris Saint-Germain) won2-0 against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League last 16 first leg match on Wednesday (13/2) early morning Western Indonesian Time. Angel Di Maria became the happiest figure for the victory.

Les Parisiens scored two goals through Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe in the second round. Assistance for both goals? Of course, Di Maria. One of the corners was struck by Kimpembe, the other from a counterattack that was resolved by Mbappe.

Di Maria in the end became the happiest player, satisfied, and perhaps deep down, laughing wide with that victory. What he felt was natural if he saw the ‘welcome’ given by the Old Trafford’s crowds to him.

The 30-year-old player is indeed only one season defending United in the 2014-15 season before leaving for PSG. But, Di Maria left without looking for trouble to Man United, but to Louis van Gaal – United’s manager at the time.

It’s actually not strange anymore. After all, there are quite a lot of players who have had problems with Van Gaal’s rigorous, disciplined coaching method, until he was nicknamed the Iron Tulip.

Somehow Di Maria’s comeback was greeted with relentless intimidation from the home fans throughout the match (before Di Maria was replaced in the second half). Scorn until the bottle thrown from the supporters is specifically directed at him.

Even Ashley Young seems to want to satisfy the fans with an attitude that shouldn’t have happened. In a duel for the ball, Young, who had received a yellow card, pushed Di Maria out of the field to hit the posse. The action was criticized by Thomas Tuchel, PSG coach.

“I think he (Young) is lucky because his actions (to Di Maria) do not need to happen – he has played a lot here and he knows reasonable limits,” said Tuchel, quoted by Sky Sports.

“There is no need to push Di Maria to the guardrail. I don’t think he did it intentionally and I am happy there is no serious injury.”

Massimo Ambrosini, Milan legend, even commented on Young’s attitude even more decisively. “What Young did was really pure (bad): he knew how the surface on the Old Trafford side was made, he could give Di Maria a serious injury.”

All that treatment ultimately did not affect Di Maria. In fact, the whole ‘speech’ was changed to positive energy and motivation to give the best. One of them is doing it to players who have won the Champions League with Real Madrid.

“Di Maria is very competitive. If you taunt him, it doesn’t make him weak. I think he has a good relationship with fans. He is a little nervous and must be calmer in the first half. In the end he performed well,” added Tuchel.

The Argentine player also showed that he was an ordinary human. Some fans who had been silent also ridiculed him because Di Maria replied to the provocation with his gesture when he tried to drink water in the bottle, a happy expression in front of the fans, and said harshly. But in the end, the angel smiled at the base of the Red Devils.