Marc Skinner is expecting a “raucous night” when Manchester United Women make their Champions League debut against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, with the United manager confident his team can beat anyone.
United qualified for the competition by finishing second in the Women’s Super league last season, two points behind the champions, Chelsea, their highest finish since entering the WSL three seasons earlier.
PSG have claimed the French championship once, in 2020-21, and have twice been runners-up in the Champions League. Yet despite their pedigree and United’s lack of experience in Europe’s premier competition, Skinner struck a bullish note before the game at Leigh Sports Village. The return in France is a week on Wednesday and if United progress they will enter the draw for the 16-team group stage.
“We have to put everything in and have no regrets – I thoroughly believe in my team to, on their day, beat any team they play against,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we have those days by performance, with grit, determination, a bit of everything. This team will attack us so we have to make sure they have to defend against us.
“I feel we are at that level. We still have a lot of growth to do – I’m not saying we’re the finished article by any means – but I’m really happy with where the group is at, I think we can beat any team.”
United have four points after the opening two WSL matches of this season, having won 2-1 at Aston Villa prior to Friday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal, Skinner’s side conceding a late equaliser in front of a vocal home crowd in Leigh. The manager believes United’s fans will create an especially memorable atmosphere for PSG’s visit.
“I’m fully expecting a raucous atmosphere, and something that feeds both sets of players,” said Skinner. “But we can’t get swept away with the emotion of that.
“Our fans are the best in the league. It was a cauldron [on Friday] – it can be really daunting, can put you off your game. I imagine that PSG having their ultras at home will mean they are used to noise, but the fans mean everything in this and the next leg because I know we will take a big travelling party. They are going to be a big key factor in this game – of us [hopefully] winning. Our task will feed off their energy.”
