Manchester United show they have ‘tools to unlock any situation’ – but can they do it in Paris?

Elite European competition had been a long-standing goal for Manchester United’s Women’s team ever since their reformation in 2018, but Marc Skinner’s side looked unnerved in the opening 45 minutes against Paris Saint-Germain.

The United manager’s decision to play a 4-5-1, fronted by Lucia Garcia with Leah Galton and defender Jayde Riviere out wide, appeared to complicate things for a team still coalescing after 10 new signings in the summer.

United could not win this second qualifying round tie on Tuesday night but came close to letting this first leg get away from them. Millie Turner had to save early blushes with a goal-line clearance in the first 90 seconds and any attempts from Skinner to smother the space with a midfield five were rocked by an aggressive front press from the French side.

It would take an injury to PSG’s Oriane Jean-Francois in the 17th minute for the home side to begin addressing the game’s momentum — and another seven minutes before Garcia latched onto a slack backpass to have United’s first attempt on goal.

Skinner himself would spend much of the first half either consulting screens in the dugout to get a tactical view of the field or…