MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN head coach Marc Skinner remains confident his team can overturn their deficit against Bayern Munich Women in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
United lost the first leg 3-2, but Skinner believes his players can deliver a strong response in Germany.
Despite criticism, he refused to label his team as inexperienced or careless. Instead, he focused on their resilience after they twice came back from behind during the match.
German side Bayern executed their plan effectively from the start. Pernille Harder scored early and created problems again later in the game. Momoko Tanikawa sealed the win with a late goal in the 81st minute.
Skinner acknowledged defensive mistakes but stayed optimistic. He stressed that small errors made the difference and believes correcting them can change the outcome in the second leg.
He also dismissed suggestions that his team should have played more defensively. Instead, he highlighted the importance of applying pressure to prevent Bayern from launching long passes.
Bayern’s coach Jose Barcala praised his team’s execution. His players used quick forward passes to exploit gaps behind United’s defense, which proved decisive.
Squad depth played a key role in the result. Hinata Miyazawa recently returned from international duty and started the match, while Bayern used fresh legs from the bench. Tanikawa, who came on later, made a crucial impact with both an assist and the winning goal.
United now face a demanding schedule. They will take on Manchester City Women before traveling to Germany for the decisive second leg.
Skinner admitted the tight schedule and small squad will test his players. However, he emphasized their determination and belief.
He expects a tough challenge but insists his team will fight until the end. According to him, every player understands the demands of playing for Manchester United and will give maximum effort in pursuit of a Champions League comeback.
