Manchester United's win over Paris St-Germain was overshadowed in conversation by the goalkeepers — not least Mary Earps' highly publicised return to Old Trafford amid the fallout from her autobiography. Earps started in goal for PSG, while United's usual keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce was a surprise omission from Marc Skinner's squad with a facial injury.
That absence handed 21-year-old Safia Middleton-Patel just her second United start — her first in Europe and debut at Old Trafford — after news of Tullis-Joyce's withdrawal reached the squad on matchday. Thrust into one of the club's biggest fixtures, she faced a PSG side with deep Champions League pedigree in front of 14,667 fans, the club's biggest crowd of the season.
Two minutes in Middleton-Patel was tested when Jennifer Echegini's powerful strike rebounded off the inside of her left post. Despite the early scare — and the step up from her only other United appearance in a League Cup tie against second-tier Newcastle — she steadied herself. Her recent Euro experience with Wales helped settle her for the occasion.
Skinner praised her composure and growth: "She was my player of the match. What you can't measure is the psycholo
