The Debate: United will take momentum to Paris

United weathered the storm of the French side’s attacking qualities for large parts of the first half before going behind in the second, but fought back valiantly to level the tie heading into tomorrow’s second leg in France.

It leaves our historic first-ever UEFA Women’s Champions League round-two tie firmly in the balance before the 19:00 BST kick-off at the Parc des Princes, and Chamberlain believes Marc Skinner’s side will arrive in the French capital uplifted as a result.

“It's going to be a huge test and I think it's going to be a massive crowd there as well, which will obviously play its part. But I think the fact that we've had that home leg first and kind of weathered the storm in the first half, managed to get in without conceding after being put under a lot of pressure, will give the team a huge amount of confidence and also scoring the goal,” Chamberlain said, on a brand-new episode of The Debate.

“Coming back from going a goal down is really important and I think going into that game [on Wednesday], they'll know how tough a task it will be. They'll know where the threats come from with PSG, but they'll also know how they can capitalise on their weaknesses.

“Geyse, who came on at half-time, was absolutely phenomenal in that second half. I'm hoping to see her start because I think she will ask a lot of questions of their backline. United have got more than enough to go out there and get the result.”

Joining Siobhan on the latest episode of our regular talk show, filmed in the Old Trafford Megastore, was United Academy graduate Joe Thompson.

Thompson was on co-commentary duties for United Women’s 1-1 draw with Leicester last time out, and, like Chamberlain, provided his assessment of where the Reds are at heading into the PSG tie, off the back of the first leg and the weekend’s closely fought domestic contest with the Foxes.

“It is a squad that has obviously had its challenges, but they are growing, and you can see that team spirit," Joe began, in response to MUTV presenter Mark Sullivan.

“I thought they grew into that [PSG] game. It was a bit of a baptism of fire in that first half so to speak. But they can take that second 45 minutes and that momentum into the Parc des Princes and what a wonderful occasion. 

“It's all about creating that history and I think they've done ever so well. 

“But off the back of that Leicester game, it was a little bit fragmented. I listened to Marc Skinner after it as well, he wanted them to be more ruthless. That was probably the same as my observations, but the chances are being created, you just need to make sure you hit the back of the net.”

In both the Leicester and PSG games, United fell behind, carrying on an unwanted trend that has been present in each of our four games so far in 2023/24.

But in every one of that quartet, Skinner’s side have rallied back to avoid defeat, and Chamberlain insists that also says a lot about the character in the squad this season.

“I think it's disappointing the fact that United have conceded first in so many games and had to come back, but then you can flip that on its head completely and say the positives of being able to come back from going a goal down are knowing that you've got that in your locker.

“That you've got the mentality, the resilience and the attitude to say: ‘Even though we've gone a goal down, it doesn't matter. We can still come back into this game. We can come back to draw, we can come back to win.’

“So it's something I'm sure Marc's going to be looking at, but that's one of the things that I've thought has been a real positive and a real switch in mentality with the team through this season, but also through last season.

“They didn't manage to go on to win it at the weekend, but they'll have to in midweek if they're going to get past PSG.”