Manchester United's head coach, Marc Skinner, acknowledges that heading to Germany to overcome a 3-2 first-leg deficit against Bayern Munich in the Champions League will prove to be a substantial challenge for his team.
However, he remains confident that it is an achievable task.
Skinner dismissed suggestions that his squad demonstrated naivety by not securing the game after successfully bouncing back from two goals conceded to former Chelsea player Pernille Harder, despite the fact that the first of those goals came just two minutes into the match, showcasing Bayern's effective game strategy.
Instead, he chose to highlight the positive aspects of a match that turned unfavorably for his team due to an 81st-minute goal from Momoko Tanikawa.
"I wouldn't characterize it as naivety," Skinner stated. "Every game offers an opportunity for learning, particularly in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
"I'm disappointed with all three goals. They didn't have to exert too much effort to earn them.
"However, I know this team is committed to being candid about it, and we have another leg to rectify the situation and make a comeback.
"We hold belief. Absolutely we do. There is no purpose in traveling to Germany if we do not have it."
Nonetheless, Bayern's coach, Jose Barcala, expressed his anticipation that United would implement a "really aggressive high press," instructing his team to penetrate their defense immediately.
His players executed these directives impressively. Arianna Caruso delivered a precise pass into the gap between United’s defense and their box, allowing Harder to outpace captain Maya Le Tissier to score, replicating this in the second half when Tanikawa set her up again for the eventual match-winning goal.
"After winning the game 3-2, he's going to say that," Skinner responded when it was mentioned that Barcala believed Bayern felt at ease during periods when United attempted to apply pressure.
"Our challenge is to ensure they feel significantly more discomfort."
Skinner effectively countered the notion that his team might have been better off retreating slightly to prevent Harder from making those crucial runs.
"There are two mistakes on our part," he acknowledged.
"When you apply pressure on the ball, long balls cannot be effectively played. They attempted it several times and lost possession.
"They succeeded in this match, but had I mitigated those two chances, they wouldn’t have scored."
Though it seems straightforward, accurate execution is essential at this elite level. Failure to do so results in punishment.
Numerous minor details contribute to why United ended up on the short end of a close match.
One key factor is undoubtedly squad depth.
Consider Japan midfielder Hinata Miyazawa, who played in the Asian Cup final in Sydney on Sunday before returning to start for United.
In contrast, Tanikawa, who did not play against Australia, began on the bench for Bayern, who were cautious about the impacts of jetlag and wanted their midfielder to make a significant contribution, which she did by assisting Harder and then scoring the decisive goal.
Skinner simply lacks the roster flexibility to rotate players in this manner.
This makes the upcoming days particularly challenging, with another match at Old Trafford against Women's Super League leaders Manchester City on Saturday, followed by the trip to Germany for the second leg against Bayern next Wednesday (17:45 BST).
"We've played the most football in Europe this year, and currently have a very small squad, which will put us to the test," Skinner said.
"It will push us to our limits. But there is a motivating incentive for us.
"We anticipate difficulties. It is crucial to mentally prepare for what is necessary.
"That’s exactly why my players are at Manchester United. If they weren't willing to take on this challenge, they wouldn't be part of this club. They will give it their all."
Source: BBC Sport
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