Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves have hailed Axel Tuanzebe's performance in Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
The United centre-back was named in the starting line-up in the absence of captain Harry Maguire, who was ruled out with a muscle tear after the weekend's win over Newcastle.
Despite lining up against the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, Tuanzebe was impressive in a back three alongside Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof, as United coped comfortably with the hosts' attacking threat.
A first half penalty from Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring at the Parc des Princes, before Anthony Martial's own goal levelled the scores in the second half.
Marcus Rashford, who had previously wasted several opportunities on the counter-attack, scored the winner to earn all three points for United.
“We won against one of the best teams in the world – a fantastic one," United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said after the game.
"Victor [Lindelof] and Axel played tremendous. It’s a better performance this time than last even though last time we won 3-1.
"The performance showed we had developed. Scott [McTominay] and Fred were outstanding. Scotty played the first half with only one eye – that was the most impressive thing because he lost his contact lens.”
On Rashford's winning goal, Solskjaer said: “He’s got quality and took his goal very well, a great turn and a good finish in the corner.”
Solskjaer's side face Chelsea next in the Premier League, with both teams looking to establish themselves in the top four.
Maguire could return to United's starting line-up to face the Blues, but Ferdinand believes Tuanzebe deserves to stay in the team after his performance on Tuesday night, with Chelsea's attackers more likely to struggle against the 22-year-old's pace.
“This is where United have struggled in the last six to 12 months, chasing players down those channels,” Ferdinand told BT Sport .
“They can’t stay with them and it opens up the back four, back three. But here, he was smelling danger.
“Ole has just said that’s two of the best strikers in the world. He snuffed out danger on many occasions and you have to reward performances like that at a time of injuries.
“Again, first game in 10 months and to come in and play like that from out the cold you just deserve to be rewarded.”
Fellow pundit and former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves agreed.
“He’s not getting out of the side," he said. "If you’ve got this much athleticism in these positions."
