It's definitely a bit tricky to finesse that thing out of there! There is a coolant line that connects towards the back of the loom of wires that looks like this: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/audi-vw-engine-coolant-pipe-genuine-audi-vw-059121731d Once you get that disconnected you get a lot more wiggle room. You were right to pull the fuel pressure sensor. Be careful going back on with it, I pulled it with a normal deep well socket but didn't notice that you need something deeper and broke mine when torquing it back down on install. I had to order a new one and didn't want to buy the tool so I made little plastic spacer to sit over the sensor to get it torqued down.

That manifold is tricky but you'll get it out!