A historic night of European football awaits Manchester United Women, with the Reds preparing to face Atletico Madrid in the team’s first-ever UEFA Champions League knockout tie.
Thursday’s 20:00 GMT kick-off at the Centro Deportivo Wanda Alcala de Henares in Madrid is the first part of our two-legged play-off encounter with Atleti, and the reward for finishing the league-phase campaign inside the 18-team table’s top six.
With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, United Women arrived in the Spanish capital on Wednesday evening, before head coach Marc Skinner and Swedish defender Anna Sandberg made their way to the stadium to preview the game at our pre-match press conference.
Below, you can see seven key quotes from that media session, including an update on the absent Fridolina Rolfo, plus what Marc and Anna expect from an Atleti team that have appointed a new manager since we beat them at the same ground in the league phase…
SKINNER: ROLFO MISSES OUT WITH KNOCK
“The squad’s fine, in good shape. Only Frido had a little knock from the weekend, so she’ll miss out on this game. Leah [Galton] and Tooney [Ella Toone] are the only other absentees. Everybody else is fit, in the squad and ready to go.”
SKINNER: WE’RE PREPARED FOR DIFFERENT ATLETI
“They've changed coach recently, Jose [Herrera]'s come in and has changed the style of the team a little bit. So, we've got to be prepared for that. They are a highly technical team, were really threatening on the day [in October's league-phase meeting]. But I felt the team performed really well away from home and we got the result. So, we're looking forward to the same thing. Slightly different setup, different approach from the coach. But nevertheless, we're here to try and get a victory and take a good space back to the home leg.”
SANDBERG: OCTOBER’S WIN BRINGS GOOD FEELING
“We kind of know what to expect from this team because we played them once before, and I think we did a really good team performance, especially being one player down as well. It's always a bit extra to play in the Champions League, out in Europe. But I think it's a good thing that we played them before, and we kind of know what to expect. But it will be a hard game, a tough game, of course, but we are very excited.”
SKINNER: WE’VE GROWN FROM FIRST EURO AWAY
“The difference is the experience the players have. I've seen us fight. I've seen us play beautiful football. I've seen us find a way to win, and I think that's what we have to do in these two legs. I think we're going to have some challenging times. It's pretty windy out there. So that will challenge the game in different ways. But I think I've learned a lot about my team, they've grown. What I'd say about the PSG one [our first-ever Women’s Champions League tie in 2023] was, we played an incredible team then, and we'll play one tomorrow night. We've got to be up for it on the night, and we've got to try our best to win the game. That's what we're here for. We've not travelled over here to not do that. We'll give everything tomorrow night.”
SANDBERG: I’M ENJOYING THIS AMAZING SEASON
“I think it's been an amazing season so far, both for me and for the team as well. I think we've been performing really good. I've been given the chance [to play] a bit more this season and I've been really, really enjoying it. It's my second season here now with Manchester United and it's always something different to move abroad. It's my first time moving abroad, but I feel like I've really found my place here now and the team, the club is fantastic. So, I feel like I've been taking steps since I joined and I feel like this is the best place for me to be at the moment.”
SANDBERG: MORE SWEDES IN SQUAD IS NICE
“Of course, it's amazing. I said that before, like even if it would be just one Swede here, it would be really nice. But the fact that we've got, what, five now [after the signings of Hanna Lundkvist and Ellen Wangerheim in January]? It's really nice. And they're amazing football players, not only football players, but only also as people. So, they're great adds to the squad and they’re doing amazing.”
SKINNER: WE’RE IN MADRID TO WIN
“I think Atleti's ability to attack and change the game directly [is the main challenge they pose]. I think the front two are lively and creative. Obviously, we know Vilde Boe Risa very well, who can, given time, find passes on a dime. So, for us, it's about recognising how to try and control the game but then put our stance on the game as well. Recognise the quality they have, but put ours into the game, go and attack them. I don't think you can sit and try and draw any of these legs, I think both teams will try and win both legs. And if you can do that, I think you're probably going to have the best chance of progressing.”
JOIN OUR LIVE WATCHALONG
Not in Madrid for the match? You can keep across a historic night for the team with our live watchalong on the United Women YouTube channel.
MUTV’s Zarah Connolly will be joined by former Reds Siobhan Chamberlain and Aoife Mannion for the show, streamed live from Hotel Football, next to Old Trafford.