Skinner felt the game resembled a fixture more akin to America’s NWSL – physically intense and direct – and he believes that, if his team can match PSG’s physicality in Paris, they can get through, despite acknowledging that the atmosphere in the Parc des Princes will be “intimidating” and a new experience for his players.
English football, though, needs Skinner’s team to deliver a result against-the-odds, though, because England is currently only ranked fourth in Uefa’s coefficient, trailing well behind France, Germany and Spain, and that status will make it harder for English teams to qualify in the future without improved results on the continent.
A place in the group stage, at the expense of a French giant, would have huge value to the WSL as well as Manchester United. But it won’t be easy.
Match details
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Earps 7; Blundell 6, Le Tissier 6, Turner 6, George 6; Naalsund 6 (Miyazawa 7, 66), Zelem 6; Riviere 5 (Geyse 7, 46), Toone 6, Galton 6; Garcia 6 (Malard 7, 66)
Subs not used: Tullis-Joyce (gk), Ladd, Evans, Parris, Williams
Yellow cards: None
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Picaud 6; Le Guilly 6 (Calligaris 6, 84), Jean-Francois 6 (Hunt 6, 18), De Almeida 6, Karchaoui 7; Groenen 8, Geyoro 7, Albert 6; Baltimore 8, Chawinga 7 (Bachmann 6, 84), Martens 6 (Katoto 7, 54)
Subs not used: Kiedrzynek (gk), Toussaint (gk), Samoura, Frazer, Vangsgaard, Tounkara, Vitoria, Gilbert
Yellow cards: None
Referee: Frida Klarlund (Denmark)
Attendance: 4,827
