Key quotes: United's pre-Wolfsburg presser

The two-time winners of the competition - in 2013 and 2014 - are United's next European test, in the fourth of our six league-phase fixtures.

Skinner's team have won each of the previous three and will arrive at the Volkswagen Arena full of confidence against a club with a strong history in this tournament, and one that has two wins from their three outings in this campaign.

Marc got a look around the venue while conducting his pre-match press conference shortly after the squad landed in Wolfsburg earlier this evening (Tuesday), and began by explaining how his players will look to improve on Saturday's WSL defeat to Manchester City.

“We were good against Manchester City in moments, we just needed to be a little bit better in both boxes," the boss said, speaking inside the Volkswagen Arena's impressive press-conference room.

“Hopefully we can rectify that tomorrow against a fantastic team in Wolfsburg. We’re really looking forward to it, we’ve played really well up to this part of the season, so we’re really looking to giving a good shift tomorrow and looking forward to gracing this beautiful stadium with a good performance.”

When asked about facing Wolfsburg's star players, such as Alexandra Popp, a legend of German football and this season's joint-top scorer in the Frauen-Bundesliga, Marc added: “I believe in the team, I believe in the players. When you’re in this level of competition, you face many iconic forwards.

“Popp is one of the legends of the game in my opinion. To see her qualities, up front and personal, will be a challenge for us.

“But I’ve also got a legend of the game next to me [being sat next to Dominique Janssen]. It’s what we’re here for. We’re here for business, we want to make it as tough as possible, but these romantic stories are part of what make this game beautiful.

“We have to approach it with no respect when we’re on the field. You give this team too much respect and they can hurt you.”

The boss went on to provide the latest on how his squad is shaping up for the game, after naming a 19-player travelling squad earlier today.

Simi Awujo and Ella Toone were both included after suffering a bump to the head and a scrape down the Achillies respectively in Saturday's derby, but recent absentees Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Celin Bizet Donnum have stayed back in Manchester.

Skinner confirmed during the press conference that Tullis-Joyce has suffered a small fracture to her eye socket, and that he hopes to see Bizet Donnum return from a back issue soon.

“[For Phallon] there is a small fracture [to her eye socket] but what I would say is Phallon has got a meeting with the doctors and we’ll see from there.

“We trust the quality of our players, our goalkeepers coming in. Phallon is a massive part of our team, of course she is. Once we find the severity of it, we’re looking at a potential return after the international window. Hopefully we get some good news, and she can return to the pitch asap.

“Celin’s still not available, we're still assessing her, she's still got the back issue. Hopefully we’ll have her back soon. She’s probably a few weeks away, I would imagine.

“Simi is back to normal head size now, it’s shrunk again so she’s back. Ella’s was just a bit sharp at the time. It’s the same squad really that’s available [as at the weekend], everyone is fine, fit and ready.”

DOM 'EXCITED' TO BE BACK

Marc was conducting his press conference alongside United defender Dominique Janssen, who spent five years as a Wolfsburg player, between 2019 and 2024.

The Netherlands international, who was a two-time Champions League runner-up with the German club, is looking forward to facing her old side and seeing the support of United's travelling fans inside the Volkswagen Arena.

“I’m really excited to be back. It’s a special place,” Dom told reporters. “I was here for five years so returning here gives me a warm feeling, so I’m really excited for the game tomorrow.

“As a Wolfsburg player, if you play there [at the Volkswagen Arena, the club's main stadium], it’s always a special occasion,” she continued when asked about the fans and the stadium. “You play in a big stadium, a lot of people are going to come to the game and, as you said, they [the fans] are loud, the fans are great.

“I also think they [Wolfsburg] have been struggling a bit playing in the big stadiums, against the big teams, which is an opportunity for us. I hope there is going to be a little Red Army for us as well, so I'm super excited to play tomorrow.”