Skinner: We have to connect the dots

The Reds reached the final of the AMOS Women's French Cup, having seen off two-time Champions League finalists PSG on Tuesday.

Despite falling to defeat against Bayern Munich at the Stade Ernest-Wallon on Friday evening, Skinner believes that pitting his players against some of the biggest and best sides in Europe can only bode well for the upcoming campaign.

''We're not at that level that but we are very close,'' began the 39-year-old, as he spoke to MUTV following the loss.

''You saw in stages of the second half where we had the personality to get the ball and go and play but in the first half I thought we were quite passive in moments.

''We allowed the opponent to physically bully us a little bit. Let me be very clear, I have just challenged my team, you have seen and felt the level, as a group, as a Manchester United team. Now we have to raise our game.''

United recorded another strong WSL campaign last season, finishing in fourth position overall having only lost four times domestically. 

Now, with strong summer additions including Maya Le Tissier, Grace Clinton, Adriana Leon, Lucia Garcia and Nikita Parris all settling into the fold, Skinner has emphasised the need to build on the good work over the summer.

''We have to now connect the dots between positioning, how we play and those principles,'' he added.

''For a lot of these girls it's the first time that they have been together, we have only had them for four or five days.

''The England girls for example only came back to join our flight. For us now it's about connecting those dots and getting ready, we play Everton next week and then after that it's getting ready and ramping it up ahead of the Tottenham game.

''We must connect everything now and put the pieces in place as the principles are already there. We have to just now make sure that everybody understands them. Then we will be an absolutely menace to any team we play.''