Last updated on .From the section European Football Di Maria did not hold back his celebrations on his return to Old Trafford He was booed relentlessly by Manchester United fans and had bottles thrown at him - but Angel di Maria had the last laugh on his return to Old Trafford. The Paris St-Germain winger is unpopular with some United fans after underachieving in one season at the club - but assisted both goals as the French champions won 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie in Manchester. His evening did not get off to a good start. "He got booed getting off the coach even way before he went to warm up on the pitch. So it started early from United fans," French journalist Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 live. It looked like his evening would come to a premature end in the first half when he suffered an injury after Ashley Young shoved him off the pitch and into a metal barrier. Ashley Young was fortunate not to pick up a second booking for pushing Di Maria off the pitch The Argentine was able to continue after treatment, but PSG boss Thomas Tuchel was not happy. "[Young] was lucky," said Tuchel. "He knows there is a hill going down. There was no need to push him into the fence. I am happy there was no big injury." Di Maria also missed a glorious chance when he hit a shot straight at David de Gea - and was thankful to see the offside flag raised. "He had a hard time in the first half," said Tuchel. "The guy is very competitive. If you tease him, it does not make him weaker. "I thought he had a good relationship with the fans. He was a bit nervous and needed to be calmer in the first half." Di Maria went on to have a big impact in the second half, providing two vital assists, the first a corner that picked out Presnel Kimpembe to smash home from close range. As PSG celebrated, he screamed at the United fans. "After the corner there were a few words thrown at the crowd," said Laurens. "I can understand his frustration. It's not nice to be booed on your old ground when you don't feel you've done anything wrong. It didn't work out. I don't think he expected that reception." A beer bottle was thrown in Di Maria's direction... ... followed by one full of water Minutes later, as he went to take another corner, a bottle of beer was thrown at him, although he at least saw the funny side by pretending to take a swig. Another bottle, this time full of water, was thrown his way before he set up PSG's second goal - his left-wing cross swept home by Kylian Mbappe in the penalty area. "On the pitch he looked like a man on a mission," said Laurens. "All week, from what I've been told, he was looking forward to coming back to Old Trafford. He felt like he had a point to make - and he did that with the two assists." Tuchel added: "In the end he did well. He always gives everything he has. I am happy he stayed confident. He is super reliable." Di Maria was booed off when he was replaced on 81 minutes. "We didn't see this type of performance from Angel di Maria under Louis van Gaal when he had the red shirt of Manchester United on," ex-United defender Phil Neville told BBC Radio 5 live. "He's definitely had a happy return to Old Trafford. He was brilliant." Why was Di Maria booed by United fans? Much was expected of Di Maria when Van Gaal signed him for a British record £59.7m in 2014. But just one year later, after four goals in 32 games, he was sold to PSG for £44.3m. He was played in six different positions during his season in England, and there were reports he was unsettled by an attempted break-in at his Cheshire home. "It's a travesty that he wasn't a great United player," added Neville. "When he signed I thought, 'Play him on the left side of midfield, play him on the right and at last we've got a winger again, someone who fits the philosophy of the club'. "And he never produced a performance. Louis van Gaal has a lot to do with that. If there was ever someone I thought was a Man Utd player, it was Angel di Maria."<doc-sep>Jeered from the second he walked off the bus at Old Trafford, Angel Di Maria was centre of attention as his two assists helped Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-0 win in their Champions League last-16 first leg. Di Maria, who had a beer bottle thrown in his direction in the second half, drank in the criticism from United fans, many of whom have not forgotten his disastrous spell at the club in the 2014/15 season. That year was Di Maria's only since 2008 without a trophy; just three league goals and a £60m price tag made him the symbol of a failed regime at United under Louis van Gaal, but Tuesday night only served to remind Old Trafford what they should have had. Image: Di Maria set up both goals for PSG after being pushed into the Old Trafford hoardings by Ashley Young Di Maria stats Won 1 of 9 duels 85.2% passing accuracy 3 key passes (team high) 2 interceptions (joint team high) On the pitch, the Argentine was slow off the mark. PSG struggled to bring Kylian Mbappe into the game, without the injured Edinson Cavani stretching United's defence, and Neymar being Neymar. But late in the first half, Di Maria's end was up. With the ball rolling out for a throw-in, Ashley Young barged into his back, sending him flying into the hoardings via the steep slope that frames Old Trafford's pitch. 2:11 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United were given a reality check by Paris Saint-Germain as they lost 2-0 in their Champions League last-16 first leg. Di Maria, of course, made the most of it and held a seemingly injured arm as his team-mates surrounded Italian referee Daniele Orsato in a desperate attempt to force a second booking on Young. No yellow came, but the stick kept coming. Di Maria cupped his ears to his former supporters as play resumed, and that seemed to bring the 30-year-old to life. Image: The Argentine's poor spell at United in 2014/15 After the break, his deep corner to the far post should have been dealt with better by Nemanja Matic, allowing Presnel Kimpembe to convert, but the assist for PSG's second was superb. Collecting the ball wide left, Di Maria's perfectly-weighted centre left Mbappe with no option but to score after the Frenchman had burst past an unknowing United defence. Then came the showboating, and plenty of it. A particular moment in the right corner of the pitch with Mbappe, with whom he teamed up to twist and turn the United defence inside-out, was met by huge cheers from the travelling support, and more anger from the home crowd. Image: Di Maria celebrates after the victory at his old ground "Angel Di Maria is very competitive. If you tease him, it does not make him weaker," said his manager Thomas Tuchel, summing up his contribution perfectly, even noting Di Maria's weak start to the game as he won just one of his nine duels. "I thought he had a good relationship with the fans. He was a bit nervous and needed to be calmer in the first-half. In the end he did well." Di Maria was the architect for PSG's victory, which will only further rile those who remember his failed United stint well. This was the Di Maria £60m was supposed to buy.<doc-sep>Get the latest United updates, transfer news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox every day for free Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Angel di Maria has admitted he expected the hostile reception he received from the Manchester United supporters on his return to Old Trafford but still found it difficult. The Paris Saint-Germain winger was booed from the minute the game kicked off as he returned for the first time since he left the club in 2015 and was targeted by a bottle in the second half as he went to take a corner. The Argentine assisted both goals as Thomas Tuchel's side ran out 2-0 winners at Old Trafford and appeared in some footage to tell the home supporters to "f*** off" after Presnel Kimpembe's opener went in. And the 30-year-old admitted after the game he was expecting the reception he was given but that he never had any problems with the fans or the club during his spell at Old Trafford. "It was difficult from the opening minute but I knew this was going to happen," Di Maria told Cadena Cope radio of the atmosphere. "But I've said it in the past and I reiterate it, I never spoke badly of the people here and of this club. These are things that happen and people took it badly. I only had problems with the coach [Louis van Gaal] here." Di Maria was hailed as one of the club's worst ever signings after he left the club having made just 27 appearances. He arrived on a five year deal for just short of £60milllion but left for PSG just a year later having failed under Louis Van Gaal.<doc-sep>PSG star Angel Di Maria says he expected a hostile reception from Manchester United fans (Picture: Getty) Angel Di Maria says he expected a hostile reception upon his return to Manchester United in Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. United signed Argentine winger Di Maria from Real Madrid in the summer of 2014 but less than a year later he was sold to PSG. Di Maria was booed as he stepped off PSG’s coach at Old Trafford on Tuesday and the hostilities continued right until he left the pitch, having provided two assists to help the visitors win 2-0. The 30-year-old kept his cool after a bottle was thrown at him but appeared to swear at Manchester United fans during the celebrations for PSG’s opening goal. Asked about the reception he received at the Theatre of Dreams, Di Maria told Cadena Cope: ‘It was difficult from the opening minute but I knew this was going to happen. ‘But I’ve said it in the past and I reiterate it, I never spoke badly of the people here and of this club. ‘These are things that happen and people took it badly. I only had problems with the coach [Louis van Gaal] here.’ PSG boss Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, says he was surprised by the boos Di Maria received during the first leg of the last-16 Champions League tie. A bottle and a lighter was thrown during the match (Picture: Getty) Presnel Kimpembe opens the scoring at Old Trafford! Ángel Di María enjoyed that one on his return to the ground ? pic.twitter.com/wxFsOjMPGF — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 12, 2019 The manager said: ‘I thought he had a good relationship with the fans. He was a bit nervous and needed to be calmer in the first-half. In the end, he did well. ‘I’m happy that he stayed confident. I’m happy that he stayed always like this, super reliable because he’s always working hard. ‘He always gives his best and for that, it’s easy to forgive him when he has not such a good first half, for us. ‘I’m very happy. It’s always dangerous with him, with corners, and of course a superb assist for the second goal in the open position and with a perfect pass for Kylian. ‘So, a nice comeback for him and I’m very happy for him, and of course he helped us a lot.’<doc-sep>
Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria said he fully expected a hostile reception upon his return to former club Manchester United on Tuesday night amid accusations that he swore at the home fans during his celebrations. - Ogden: Solskjaer has much to prove - PSG Ratings: Di Maria 8/10 on return - United ratings: Martial 4/10 and poor Booed by United fans from the time he stepped off the bus until he left the pitch in the 81st minute, Di Maria inspired PSG to a 2-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie at Old Trafford with two assists. The winger picked out Presnel Kimpembe from a corner for PSG's opener in the 53rd minute, before setting up Kylian Mbappe with a cross to score the second seven minutes later. Di Maria kept his cool after a bottle of beer was thrown at him as he went to take a corner, while a water bottle was also thrown before PSG's second goal. But he appeared to swear in English during the goal celebrations in a video captured by BT Sport. "It was difficult from the opening minute but I knew this was going to happen," Di Maria told Cadena Cope radio of the atmosphere. "But I've said it in the past and I reiterate it, I never spoke badly of the people here and of this club. These are things that happen and people took it badly. I only had problems with the coach [Louis van Gaal] here." Sources confirmed to ESPN FC that Manchester United will open an investigation into the fans who threw objects onto the pitch, while both clubs have been charged by UEFA following the game. United have been charged by UEFA with blocking stairways and throwing objects, PSG with setting off fireworks, throwing objects, acts of damage and crowd disturbance. Sources said that fans also damaged two trams while making their way to the stadium including punching a hole in the roof of one of the carriages. Di Maria cost a British record £59.7million when he joined United from Real Madrid in August 2014 but left within a year, having scored only four goals in 32 games as Van Gaal's tactics prevented him from playing in his natural position as a winger. The Argentine was sold to PSG the following summer for €63m (£44m). Di Maria was central to PSG's win and pretended to drink the beer that was thrown at him. Getty Despite his starring performance, Di Maria was fortunate not to get injured when Ashley Young pushed him off the pitch and into a metal barrier before half-time -- a move that drew criticism from PSG coach Thomas Tuchel after the game. "There was no need to push him [Di Maria] into the fence," Tuchel told reporters. "I am happy there was no big injury. He [Di Maria] was a bit nervous and needed to be calmer in the first half. He had a hard time in the first half, the guy is very competitive. If you tease him, it does not make him weaker. I thought he had a good relationship with the fans. In the end he did well." After the game, Di Maria posted a photograph on Facebook celebrating one of the goals with his teammates and wrote: "Happy for a beautiful victory. There are still 90 minutes left. We need to continue to work for what's coming. Congratulations team." PSG, who were without the injured Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Thomas Meunier, host United in the return leg on March 6. Information from Manchester United correspondent Rob Dawson was used in this report.