By Mike Keegan For Mailonline
Published: 11:19 GMT, 18 February 2019 | Updated: 11:21 GMT, 18 February 2019
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As the famous saying goes, everyone has a plan until someone punches you on the nose.
For Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his resurgent Manchester United, that punch came in the form of a quick one-two from Parisian visitors on Tuesday night.
The plan, since the caretaker replaced the head teacher, was quite simple. Release the shackles and utilise the frightening pace that already existed within the ranks. It has meant plenty of game time for the likes of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford in a two-month period under Solskjaer which has seen United fans rise from a bored slump to the edge of their seats.
Romelu Lukaku will get a chance to showcase his talents to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Monday
He'll start in the FA Cup fifth-round against Chelsea - in a rare opportunity under Solskjaer
The Belgian's style of play doesn't suit Solskjaer's - who has opted for mobility over brawn
However, while PSG's dismantling of a suddenly one-dimensional home side at a stunned Old Trafford looks to have closed the Champions League gate, it may well have opened the door of opportunity for one man who will be keener than most to impress against Chelsea in the FA Cup on Monday night.
Step forward Romelu Lukaku. The robust Belgian has had the blues under the Norwegian. Make no mistake, Lukaku is a Jose Mourinho man. His ability to hold up the ball, his presence and his physical dominance are all traits cherished by the Portuguese which are no longer a commodity in high demand in the M16 area.
Solskjaer is schooled in the Sir Alex Ferguson era of Manchester United. When presented with two youth products with touch and pace to burn and a £75m import, it comes as no surprise that he continually opts for the local lads. The United teams he was part of were full of pace and ingenuity,