Manchester United Women v Paris Saint-Germain Féminine match programme, UWCL, 10.10.23

UNITED WOMEN

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN FÉMININE V

UEFA Women’s Champions League Qualifying, Round Two

TUESDAY 10 October 2023 ○ 8PM

#allredallequal

IT’S MATCHDAY!

HEAD COACH’S COLUMN

BIG PICTURE

COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF

REDS REPORT

HISTORY OF THE UWCL

SIGNED PLAYER POSTER

KATIE ZELEM COLUMN

GEYSE INTERVIEW

THE OPPOSITION

FAN MESSAGES

JUNIOR REDS

STATS SECTION

ADDED-TIME QUIZ

MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

Co-chairmen Joel Glazer, Avram Glazer Directors Bryan Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Richard Arnold, Michael Edelson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill CBE Secretary Rebecca Britain Honorary president Martin Edwards

MATCH PROGRAMME TEAM

Editor Charlie Ghagan Editor-in-chief Ian McLeish Contributors Helen Rowe-Willcocks, Jamie Spencer, Sean Mullan

Photography Charlotte Tattersall, Ash Donelon, John Peters, Matt Peters, Getty, Alamy Design Tom Chase, Kulsum Karolia, Andy Ball, Jake Paul Thanks to Ellie Decrop, Steve Bennett Printed by MuPrint.com © Manchester United 2023

ON OUR FIRST-EVER

EUROPEAN NIGHT, THE BOSS IS URGING HIS REDS TO PLAY WITH THE RIGHT MINDSET

MARC SKINNER

Hello and welcome to Leigh Sports Village for part one of what is a mouthwatering tie against Paris Saint-Germain – one that would probably be worthy of a quarter-final tie rather than a group-stage qualifier.

I’m putting this column together before Friday’s WSL game against Arsenal, but to have three back-to-back games here in Leigh in just over a week so early into the season is really exciting for us all, including you fans, and it’ll hopefully allow us to get that momentum we need at home in order to have a successful season.

Tactically, when you approach a two-legged knockout tie like this, there’s always going to be caution, especially in leg one. But you also can’t be too cautious. We know we’ve got to play this game effectively, with the right mindset. It’s not just about trying to eke a draw and then seeing where you’re at. Having watched and scouted PSG recently, they have exceptional talent and speed – they like to leave the pitch open, so there should be lots of transition spaces. They are also experienced at this level, whereas this is our first test in Europe, but something we’ve taken from the big games we’ve played in England is that we know we can score against

any team in any game. We know we can put the ball into areas where it hurts the opponent. We’ve worked hard to get to where we want to be, so we’ve got to go into this game with the energy and commitment we’ve had in every previous big game, and we’ve had a few now.

But of course, with PSG’s lively attack we’ll have to be at our very best defensively, not just individually but as a group. So from our perspective it’s about trying to identify ways in which we can hurt PSG – the ways we can get at them and affect them in our attack –as well as trying to be super-tight at the back. There could be some returning Reds in the opposition tonight, and fans will have fond memories of them, but on the day for us it’s about professionalism; about doing the job and trying to win this tie over two legs, with Parc des Princes to come next Wednesday.

European football was one of the things we all wanted to bring to this team, and now we have it we want to continue to bring it to our fans for as long as possible.

This is an exciting tie not only for fans of both teams but the wider public because it’s two very good teams that are going to do all they can to win.

MELVINE’S OFF THE MARK

It was quite a night here in Leigh on Friday, with plenty for the home and away fans to make some noise about. But the loudest cheer of the evening came nine minutes from time when Melvine Malard – just five minutes after stepping off the bench – used her instincts to poke home a debut goal. Pouncing on some miscommunication in the Arsenal defence, it was a smart bit of play from our new no.9, and it looked like it would be enough to take us to victory, until the Gunners’ injury-time leveller. Nevertheless, hopefully it’s a sign of things to come for Malard – and as a Lyon player on loan to the Reds, how she’d love to find the net again tonight against her parent club’s biggest rivals...

C’EST MAINTENANT...

There’s literally nowhere else we’d rather be on this Tuesday night than here at LSV cheering on the Reds

As the Champions League anthem goes – the Women’s Champions League anthem, that is, which you might not be quite so familiar with! – ‘the time is now, c’est maintenant (it’s now).’

For captain Katie Zelem, along with Ella Toone, Leah Galton, Millie Turner and many others behind the scenes to have been involved with Manchester United Women since day one in the summer of 2018, it’s been a five-year wait to reach this moment, when the Reds can proudly partake in the next step of our progression, that so far has taken us from the Championship title, to the top four of the WSL, to being runners-up in both the

league and FA Cup last season – missing out on a piece of major silverware on both counts by the finest of margins to Chelsea. That first major honour will surely come in time, but for now let’s see where our maiden Champions League campaign takes us. The only certainty we do have is that the players will be giving absolutely everything, both this evening and next Wednesday, to try and ensure it’s not merely a single-round sojourn for the 2023/24 season. Unlike in the men’s competition, a runners-up position in the league doesn’t guarantee a spot in the group stage – so far, that’s only been reserved for Barcelona, Lyon, Chelsea and Bayern Munich – with 81 other teams from across the continent scrapping it out – either in mini-tournaments or the two-legged stage at which the Reds join proceedings – for the remaining 12 positions.

IT’S A DIFFICULT TIE, FOR SURE, BUT IT’S ANOTHER TEST OF OUR MENTALITY

Last season’s semi-finalists Arsenal are among those to have already been eliminated, and the standard of teams in this final group-stage qualifying round is very strong. Of the nine sides we could have been pitted against on our side of the draw, three of them were Real Madrid, PSG and Wolfsburg – all of whom finished 2022/23 as domestic runners-up, with Wolfsburg also reaching the UWCL final.

As it transpired when the balls were pulled from the glass bowl in Nyon on 15 September, we were indeed paired with one of that trio. Wolfsburg are to play PSG’s cross-city rivals Paris FC (conquerors of Arsenal) with Real Madrid facing Toppserien runners-up Valerenga.

So while we certainly could have had an easier draw, it couldn’t have made for a more exciting way to kick off our first European adventure, and the message from Marc Skinner and his Reds has been consistent: bring it on. “If you want to challenge yourself

OTHER UWCL TIES

First legs to be played tonight/tomorrow

Champions path

Apollon Ladies FC (Cyp) v Benfica (Por)

Zurich (Sui) v Ajax (Ned)

Roma (Ita) v Vorskla (Ukr)

Valur (Isl) v St Polten (Aut)

Slavia Praha (Cze) v FCU Olimpia Cluj (Rou)

Glasgow City (Sco) v Brann (Nor)

Spartak Subotica (Srb) v Rosengard (Swe)

League path

BK Hacken FF (Swe) v Twente (Ned)

Real Madrid (Esp) v Valerenga (Nor)

Eintracht Frankfurt (Ger) v Sparta Prague (Cze)

Paris FC (Fra) v Wolfsburg (Ger)

in the Champions League and go to the latter stages, you’d end up playing these teams anyway,” said Skinner following the draw. “So from my perspective, it’s a difficult tie, for sure, but it’s something we’ve got to get used to; it’s another test of our mentality.”

Speaking ahead of Friday’s Arsenal game, the boss did hint at rotating his team this week. This was something he kept to a bare minimum last term but must be in his thoughts considering the European pedigree he brought in this summer, not to mention the demands of having three home games in just over a week, to be swiftly followed by a crunch trip to Parc des Princes.

Injury-wise, heading into the Arsenal game only Emma Watson and Aoife Mannion were missing, meaning he should have many options for tonight. Nullifying the threat of the lethal Marie-Antoinette Katoto will surely play into his thinking, with the French international back into the PSG line-up following a lengthy injury of her own.

The visitors’ preparations have been far from ideal, however, having changed their manager since the draw was made, but the loyal group of PSG fans making the journey to LSV will be hoping that change will give Les Rouge-et-Bleu the lift they need as they compete in a Women’s Champions League fixture for a 73rd time.

There can only ever be one first time, and for everyone of a red persuasion this evening, that time is now. So make some noise, and let’s hope we get to hear that spine-tingling anthem a few more times in the months ahead. C’mon, United!

Skinner has been leading the preparations at Carrington for our latest momentous fixture

Support

REDS REPORT

FOUR DAYS AGO

2 UNITED Galton 27, Malard 81

2 ARSENAL

Blackstenius 14, Lacasse 90+3

Women’s Super League Leigh Sports Village, Fri 6 Oct

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: Late sting in the tail from Lacasse denies Reds the win in thrilling Friday-night contest at a packed-out LSV.

ALL EYES ON THE LINE-UPS: Marc Skinner opted for an unchanged starting XI from our opening-day win at Villa, with a ‘Triple G’ attack of Garcia-Geyse-Galton – although it would be ‘M&M’ off the bench who combined for what looked like being our winner. (That’s enough daft wordplay from us, we promise.) As for the Gunners, all eyes were on no.23...

RECORD ATTENDANCE: As expected after every last ticket was sold, LSV was close to capacity (only allocated seating

would enable us to fill every last corner) with 8,312 in attendance, trumping the 7,864 crowd for May’s derby here.

IMPRESSIVE AWAY END: As much as we didn’t want to hear them cheering goals, we have to give a shout-out to the large section of Gunners in the middle of East Stand. For the first time, it felt like we had a proper away end here, which can only add to the atmosphere and sense of occasion.

UNFAMILIAR FEELING: When the visitors took the lead on 14 minutes – Stina Blackstenius powering down the right before cutting in and finding the far corner of Mary Earps’ goal – it saw us fall behind at LSV in a WSL game for the first time in 11 months.

GALTON GETS US LEVEL: The Reds were back on terms 13 minutes later, when Gabby George’s long ball put Leah Galton one-on-one with Arsenal’s Sabrina D’Angelo. The Canadian stopper got there first, but after missing the ball completely Leah wasn’t going to pass up the chance to slot home.

‘WILL THE OWNER OF VEHICLES...’: Did the drivers of the Citroen and the

The players race to congratulate Galton after our no.11 had put us level

Mercedes ever return to their cars? That’s what we were pondering at the break, after the poor PA announcers put out countless mid-game appeals. Maybe only the local towing garage has the answer...

RUSSO WATCH: Predictably, Alessia Russo received a fair bit of attention from both sets of supporters, and she became a growing threat as the second half began, rattling the United crossbar as the contest ebbed and flowed.

GEY-SE THAT WAS CLOSE! Our own no.23 was also a menace in attack, Geyse’s strength and speed so nearly leading to a first competitive goal, as she flashed a shot inches past D’Angelo’s far post, shortly before being replaced by Rachel Williams. Melvine Malard and Hinata Miyazawa also joined the action, replacing Lucia Garcia and Ella Toone.

NO DUCKING OUT FROM MALARD: As we entered the final 10, Miyazawa’s header bounced high into the Arsenal box. Despite Malard’s deep starting position she charged through the defenders to seize on their hesitancy, stretching with her left boot to poke the ball home. Beautiful stuff.

LACASSE LEVELS: Clearly the 94th-minute equaliser was a source of frustration, but there was no stopping this one, as Canadian sub Cloe Lacasse found the top corner with a 25-yarder. Exasperating, yes, but as an objective observer would summarise, it was probably a fair result.

MANAGERS’ REACTION

MARC SKINNER: “We’ve come a long way where Arsenal are celebrating like that at the end. The historic team of this league and they’re celebrating like that because it meant a lot to get a point at Manchester United. That’s the big level we’ve come to.”

JONAS EIDEVALL: “The performance was big from us today. There’s not many teams who come to Leigh Sports Village and are the better team than Manchester United are, especially when you see the number of goalscoring opportunities.”

AWAY TICKETS FOR PSG

We have received an allocation of 1,000 tickets for the second leg of tonight’s tie, to be played in Parc des Princes, Paris, next Wednesday evening (7pm kick-off UK time).

At the time of writing tickets are still available, to United Women season ticket holders, men’s team season ticket holders and executive club members, as well as official members. Tickets are priced at £11 and digital tickets will be issued by email ahead of the game. Please scan the code here to check availability.

NEW TIME FOR DERBY DAY

Two of United’s WSL fixtures in November have been chosen for live TV coverage in the UK, resulting in new kick-off times. The Reds’ away fixture against Brighton, to be played at Broadfield Stadium, Crawley, will be shown on Sky Sports on Sunday 5 November (6.45pm). The Manchester derby on Sunday 19 November has also changed: this Old Trafford fixture will now begin at 4.30pm, and will be live on Sky Sports. All WSL fixtures following the derby remain subject to change.

A post-match huddle following an exhilarating 90 minutes to begin our home campaign

CALLING FUTURE BALLERS

Football sessions for girls aged 12 to 14 who want to play their way.

SCAN HERE TO #FindYourSquad

THE ULTIMATE CLUB CROWN

ULTIMATE CROWN

Even for us international players who’d played in a European Championship, it was a highlight,” recalled FFC Frankfurt’s Steffi Jones of the cherished day in which her hometown side won the inaugural final of tonight’s competition in May 2002 – the German defender scoring the game’s opening goal against Swedish champions Umea at Frankfurt’s Waldstadion with a neat header.

“It made us very proud. It was a signal to everybody that with this title we could do more for women’s football – demand more, get more recognition. Accomplishments like that are not only important for the club, but it can have an effect on the whole of women’s football. You attract more spectators, you grab the media’s interest, and we were able to use that success to attract more attention. It was a milestone for women’s football.”

And here we are, 21 years and five months later, with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain

THE CUP EVERY FEMALE PLAYER DREAMS OF WINNING...

competing this month to take part in the group stage of the competition’s 23rd edition. It would be fair to say that a lot has happened along the way, as it has morphed from UEFA Women’s Cup into the Women’s Champions League we know today...

UEFA’S CHANGE OF FOCUS

With international competitions well established in the women’s game by the end of the 20th century – the Euros debuted in 1984, while World Cup finals had been played every four years since 1991 – as the new millennium began European football’s governing body turned its attention to the women’s club game. A new UEFA Women’s Cup provided an opportunity for the best clubs across the continent to go up against each other; the aim being to increase the general profile of women’s football and adding a higher level of elite competition that also underpinned growing quality at future international tournaments.

In that first 2001/02 competition, 33 member associations entered a team – Arsenal represented England – and UEFA was pleased with the immediate uptake, considering the tight budgets for many of those involved, and the costs of embarking on a continental campaign. There was a solitary qualifier to trim the 33 entrants – Moldovan side Codru Chisinau beating Slovenians Ilirija 18-0 on aggregate – followed by a 32-team preliminary group stage; a format that bore similarities to the men’s Champions League.

WE EXPLORE THE ORIGINS OF TONIGHT’S COMPETITION, WHICH HAS SINCE SEEN TWO DECADES OF IMPRESSIVE GROWTH TO BECOME

WORDS: JAMIE SPENCER

Teams were drawn into eight groups of four for a round-robin competition, although it was only one game against each opponent, and all group matches were hosted by a nominated club over the course of a few days to reduce travelling, giving it the feel of an international tournament.

The wild scorelines continued across some lop-sided groups – FFC Frankfurt matching Codru Chisinau’s 18-0 aggregate scoreline in a single match as they swept aside CSC Yerevan from Armenia, alongside five other double-digit goal tallies (which thankfully, have become far more of a rare occurrence in the competition these days).

The group winners from 2001/02 headed to the quarter-finals, and from there it was typical two-legged knockouts, leading to that one-off final in Frankfurt. There, despite awful weather, 12,106

fans watched a FFC Frankfurt team inspired by future two-time World Cup winner Birgit Prinz beat Umea of Sweden 2-0. UEFA highlighted the attendance as being a European record for the women’s club game, although historic research since then would suggest that wasn’t anywhere near the case. Nevertheless, the success of UEFA’s fledgling club competition was clear to see.

EXPANSIONS AND SEEDINGS

As more countries sought to be involved, the cup grew in participants year on year for the next three seasons, with tweaks to the format along the way.

First the qualifying round was expanded and the final became a two-legged affair, before 2004/05 saw seeded sides fast-tracked to a second group stage, alongside the winners of the earlier groups. Bar the occasional hammering it did make for a more competitive structure.

Umea – no doubt spurred on by their 2002 defeat – soon dominated, winning both of the next two titles with a team featuring several players who helped Sweden reach the 2003 World Cup final. By the time of their 2003/04 triumph, the club had also brought an 18-year-old Brazilian by the name of Marta over to Europe. The prolific forward was unstoppable, netting three over two legs as Umea tore FFC Frankfurt apart in the final to win 3-0 at home, then 5-0 in Frankfurt; that second leg especially being a cathartic 90 minutes for the Swedish side in the black shirts.

The original UEFA Women’s Cup trophy – less spiralling, more bedside table lamp-like

FFC Frankfurt (now Eintracht Frankfurt ) have won the cup four times – only Lyon (eight) have more titles

The legendary Marta on the attack for Umea in the 2008 final

Interest in the competition has come a long way since Arsenal’s triumph in 2007, played in front of a crowd of 3,467 at Meadow Park

Within a few years, FIFA would crown Marta the best female player on the planet for five consecutive seasons, and six times overall. She returned to the final twice more with Umea and later played in a fourth final with Tyreso, another Swedish club. Marta lost on each occasion but firmly cemented her legacy as one of the competition’s all-time greats.

GUNNERS GET HANDS ON TROPHY

English involvement had been encouraging in those early years, only for teams to come up short in the knockout stages: Arsenal reaching the quarters twice and semis twice in their four attempts, with Fulham eliminated in the last eight in 2003/04. But then came 2006/07, and a first continental crown for our country, as Arsenal beat Umea to secure the third piece of the Gunners’ historic quadruple that term. Arsenal were without

key forward Kelly Smith in both final legs (she was suspended for swearing at Brondby fans who had jeered her in the semis), but crucially they managed to keep Marta quiet over 180 minutes.

Full-back Alex Scott scored the only goal across the tie, a rocket finish from the right in stoppage-time of the first leg in Sweden, with Rachel Yankey, Karen Carney and Faye White also among those in the winning matchday squad, which was comprised entirely of British and Irish players and managed by north Londoner Vic Akers. “We’ve been in this competition for five out of the six years, an outstanding record, and it’s a massive boost for the game in Great Britain that the trophy has been taken out of Scandinavia and Germany,” said the delighted boss. “We should see more kids playing now and an improvement higher up.”

It took a few years, certainly, but that improvement did come. Nevertheless, Arsenal still remain the only British women’s side to be crowned European champions, with Chelsea the one other team to reach the final, in 2021.

NEW NAME, NEW SPIRALLING TROPHY

The Gunners’ success aside, German and Scandinavian dominance characterised the UEFA Women’s Cup era before it was rebranded to the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2009. Arsenal were the only non-German or Swedish team to get their hands on the trophy pre-2009, while Russians Zvezda Perm were the sole other club

ENGLISH INVOLVEMENT WAS ENCOURAGING IN THE EARLY YEARS, ONLY FOR TEAMS TO COME UP SHORT IN THE KNOCKOUTS

not from Germany or Scandinavia to even reach a final, with Frauen-Bundesliga sides Turbine Potsdam and Duisburg also lifting the cup.

German strength continued into the new era following the big rebrand – which included a resdesigned sterling silver trophy (60cm high, with its ‘spiralling arms and central body providing a vision of dynamism and strength’, in case you were wondering). But at the same time came the rise of the French game and specifically Lyon – the club that has since defined success in the women’s game more than any other.

Taking on the Champions League name was a move by UEFA to increase appeal and position it alongside the men’s competition, although with it came a reworking of the format once again, with the bulk of clubs fast-tracked to a round of 32, and only seven teams advancing from a preliminary group stage that merely acted as a qualifying round. While the early-round fixtures remained a challenge in terms of attendances – midweek fixtures, with the ‘away end’ pretty much consisting of the travelling party hunched together behind the dugout – the most significant alteration was to the final, with UEFA keen to make it into a showpiece event. Gone were two legs and back came the one-off final not seen since 2002, held at a pre-determined venue. The first ‘Women’s Champions League final’ was played on 20 May

2010, in front of 10,372 at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on the outskirts of Madrid. Turbine

Potsdam collected their second European title overall, beating Lyon in a tense shoot-out.

While the UEFA Women’s Cup had been a competition featuring only one club per country (aside from holders automatically re-qualifying) the reworked Champions League followed the men’s example with multiple entries – both Arsenal and Everton representing England in 2009/10. The WSL was granted two places each season until 2021, when it was increased to the three it is now.

Until the recent rise of Barcelona, it was German and French clubs that dominated the final in its current form. In fact, in the first nine years post-rebrand, only Marta’s Tyreso of Sweden, in 2014, came from a country outside of the Frauen-Bundesliga or France’s Division 1 Feminine.

Such has been the growth of the WSL and Liga F, it was only a matter of time before the English and Spanish sides stepped up to the continental

Marta Torrejon lifts the trophy after Barça beat Wolfsburg in Eindhoven in the most recent final

THERE ARE HIGH HOPES FOR A RECORD ATTENDANCE FOR THE FINAL IN 2024, WHOEVER IS INVOLVED AT SAN MAMES IN BILBAO

challenge, with the 2021 showdown between Barcelona and Chelsea being the first time in 14 years that the final had neither German nor French representation. Sadly for Chelsea, a first-half onslaught from the Catalans left the Blues 0-4 down in a behind-closed-doors final in Gothenburg. There was no way back for Emma Hayes’s side, and England’s wait for a second success would go on.

As for Lyon, eight trophy-lifts in 12 years between 2011 and 2022 tells you all you need to know.

Superstar striker Ada Hegerberg was at her very best in the 2019 final when she scored a hat-trick in the first 30 minutes of a 4-1 annihilation of Barcelona – the Norwegian is still the competition’s all-time leading scorer as of the start of 2023/24 with 59 goals. Team-mate Wendie Renard holds the appearance record, with 110.

MORE GAMES, MORE MONEY

As each year passes, the appeal of the Women’s Champions League grows – as evidenced in the TV audiences as much as the ticket sales once the tournament reaches its knockout stage. The current group-stage format, where teams play each other home and away, is a new addition,

ROLL OF HONOUR

2001/02

FFC Frankfurt (right)

2002/03 Umea

2003/04 Umea

2004/05

Turbine Potsdam

2005/06 FFC Frankfurt

2006/07 Arsenal

2007/08 FFC Frankfurt

2008/09 Duisburg

2009/10

Turbine Potsdam

2010/11 Lyon

2011/12 Lyon

2012/13 Wolfsburg

2013/14 Wolfsburg

2014/15 FFC Frankfurt

2015/16 Lyon

2016/17 Lyon

2017/18 Lyon

2018/19 Lyon

2019/20 Lyon

2020/21 Barcelona

2021/22 Lyon

2022/23

Barcelona (left)

introduced for 2021/22. It guarantees at least six games to all 16 clubs who qualify for the group stage, boosting experience of this level for all those involved. Prize money was introduced in 2010, with 2022/23 seeing a shared €24 million (£21m) pot – Barcelona pocketing €940,000 (£820,000) of that for going all the way. The figures will only rise.

Although more fans (50,212) watched Lyon beat FFC Frankfurt in Munich in the 2012 final, the most recent showpiece, in which Barça came from 2-0 down to beat Wolfsburg 3-2, was the first time one had sold out. Just over 33,000 were at the PSV Stadion in Eindhoven. San Mames in Bilbao, where the capacity exceeds 53,000, will host the 2024 edition and there are high hopes for another sell-out, and with it a new final record, whoever is involved. Arsenal won’t be there, having suffered a shock exit in the qualifying stages to Paris FC, but if United can get past another group of talented Parisians, you can be certain that Marc Skinner’s side will give everything – as will Chelsea – to be in the Basque country come the final weekend of May.

Hegerberg gives Lyon the lead in the 2016 final

Renard has eight winner’s medals in the competition

LEAH GALTON

THE PERFECT WAY FOR GIRLS AGED 5-11

TO GET INVOLVED IN FOOTBALL

SCAN HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

ZEL’S NOTES

WE’RE IN FRESH TERRITORY THIS EVENING, BUT THE SKIPPER INSISTS THE REDS HAVE THE KNOW-HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE

Welcome back, for part two of our triple-header here at Leigh Sports Village, following Arsenal on Friday night and Leicester to come here at the weekend. Although it’s part two of that particular run, it’s very much part one of this Champions League tie, as we go up against a really talented Paris Saint-Germain side.

It’s so exciting that we’ve got the opportunity to get into this season’s Champions League group stage and we just want to give it everything we can. Some players have signed here this year with lots of Champions League experience, while others have been working hard for five years to get to this moment with United. These two games against PSG mean a lot to us all, and we all want to put on the best performance of ourselves.

Manchester United versus Paris

Saint-Germain – European fixtures don’t come much bigger than that. Obviously there will be some familiar faces in their squad in Jackie and Aissatou, and it’ll be nice to see them both, but of course once that whistle blows we’ll all be as professional as ever.

This competition is new territory for us, so we’ve got to be smart. We always have a specific game plan going into any game, and we’ll

have one for tonight, and depending on how this evening goes we’ll have a plan in place for Paris next week. So it’ll all be about following those plans, which we spend a lot of time on.

The away leg at Parc des Princes is going to be something new in the club game for a lot of us, but we can draw on experiences from the World Cup, and take confidence from those who have gone far in this competition before. We have enough experience in the squad now that we truly believe we can deliver in any game.

The experience of the recent World Cup can only help Katie and others in preparation for tonight

AHEAD OF A HISTORIC NIGHT HERE AT LEIGH, WHO BETTER TO SPEAK TO THAN SUMMER SIGNING GEYSE , WHO WON IT LAST SEASON?

UNSURPRISINGLY, SHE’S HUNGRY FOR MORE...

I want to put the gold medal back on my chest!

Firstly, Geyse, congratulations! You made your debut for the club on the opening day of the season in our win at Aston Villa – how was that Villa Park experience for you?

It was a feeling full of emotions because it was my first official game wearing this shirt. I was really looking forward to it and to playing in front of the fans for the first time. We won the game and it was very special because the Villa Park stadium was full of fans and a lot of our supporters travelled to the game.

Our fans are always incredible, home and away. That was your first sight of how our supporters travel in numbers – what was it like experiencing that?

The fans’ support is fundamental. I think it motivates us a lot on the field and it is always very

special to hear that support. I am looking forward to the home games as well, at Leigh Sports Village.

Last season at Barcelona, you won the Women’s Champions League by beating Wolfsburg in the final [Geyse coming off the bench for the last 20 minutes of the game in Eindhoven]. Tell us about that experience...

It’s hard to put into words. I achieved one of my greatest dreams on a professional level. Today I can say ‘I am a Champions League winner’. That is something which is very special to me.

It’s an incredible achievement, hopefully the first of many! As someone who has experience playing in the Champions League, are you hoping you can lead from the front for us and help those who are new to the competition?

INTERVIEW: HELEN ROWE-WILLCOCKS

HEARING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ANTHEM? IT GIVES

BUTTERFLIES IN THE BELLY! IT’S HARD TO EXPLAIN – THE HEART BEATS VERY STRONGLY...

Yes, I already know what it’s like to play in the Champions League, and I also know what it’s like to win it. It’s something that many of us want to achieve and I know that we are all on the same page, so we all have this goal – to get far in the Champions League and in all the competitions we play in. We want to bring as many trophies home as we can this season and we are going to work together to achieve that.

The Champions League is what every player dreams of. How tough is the tournament, playing all the top teams all across Europe? It is the most difficult competition because it joins the best teams from each league, so it is so good to play in, and also so good to learn from. All teams and players in the competition have different playing styles so it is great to play against that. I really enjoyed that last season and I’m looking forward to it again against PSG.

It sounds like lifting the trophy last season has given you the belief and hunger to go on and win it again with Manchester United... Of course. I have the ambition to put the gold medal back on my chest! It’s a very good feeling that I want to repeat again. I know that I will conquer again, certainly, and I aim to do that with Manchester United. We can be the best. We have the squad to be the best.

This will be United’s first game in the Champions League. It’s a historic moment in the club’s history and one that the fans have been looking forward to since the end of last season. That must be exciting to be a part of...

I am very proud to be at this club. I am going to be part of a historic moment that will always be my moment and it is something I will always cherish. It is a feeling of great pride that we can play in this competition.

Savouring the moment on 3 June after Barça won a thrilling Champions League final against Wolfsburg

Geyse’s first-half performance on the opening day of the season got us all out of our seats at Villa Park

FULL NAME

Geyse da Silva Ferreira

DATE OF BIRTH

27 March 1998

PLACE OF BIRTH

Maragogi, Alagoas, Brazil

SENIOR CAREER

2016 Centro Olimpico

2 games, 0 goals

2017 Corinthians

16 games, 2 goals

2017-18 Madrid CFF

11 games, 2 goals

2018-19 Benfica

39 games, 59 goals

2020-22 Madrid CFF

64 games, 37 goals

2022-23 Barcelona

36 games, 10 goals

2023- Manchester United

2 games, 0 goals

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

Brazil 48 caps, 6 goals

Do you get nervous for these big games?

I am a little anxious. I think part of it is that I want to feel the energy of being a Manchester United player. I have already realised that here the players, and everybody, make sure they fight to the end. I hope to make a great game and play my part, to help as much as I can. We are focused to have two great games, and we’ll work hard. You can be sure that we will not lack commitment in these games, and along with our fans that will make a huge difference.

It’s going to be special hearing the Women’s Champions League anthem for the first time at LSV – what’s it like lining up ahead of kick-off and hearing that music?

It gives butterflies in the belly! I cannot explain; it’s really hard to explain. The heart beats very strongly and very fast. You have to control yourself. They are very good feelings, but also you feel the great responsibility that you have.

We’re speaking ahead of the Arsenal game, which would have been your first experience of the fans at home. It sounds like you’re looking forward to getting to know them better!

Our fans make a huge difference. Even at Aston Villa they were so loud and there were so many. They are so special and we want to achieve for them. We are focused on working hard and producing a fantastic game for them against PSG.

The effervescent 25-year-old didn’t take long to make new friends on the training ground during pre-season

WE WILL WORK HARD TO PLAY TWO GREAT GAMES AND MAKE IT TO THE GROUP STAGES

With the first leg at home, we’ll be heading to Paris for the decisive second game. If you had the choice would you prefer it that way, or would you have the second leg at home? I would always choose at home first. It’s good to get off to a good start and it’s good to have the support of our fans. Wherever we go we know that we will have the fans’ support. We will work hard to play two great games and make it to the group stages.

The second leg is being played at the iconic Parc des Princes, which should make for an incredible occasion in front of a large crowd... Playing in big stadiums makes the games incredible and even more special. However, it is necessary to make sure the game is incredible especially for the United fans, as they deserve it. We are going to work hard to achieve our goals and hopefully we can do that at Parc des Princes. I am looking forward to playing there.

GEYSE’S UWCL PREVIOUS

ALL 10 OF HER APPEARANCES CAME IN LAST SEASON’S COMPETITION

Group stage: Barça 9-0 Benfica

Subbed on, 65 mins, 2 goals

GS: Rosengard 1-4 Barça

Started, subbed off 66 mins, booked

GS: Barça 3-0 Bayern Munich

Started, subbed off 69 mins, 1 goal

GS: Bayern Munich 3-1 Barça

Started, subbed off, 86mins, 1 goal

GS: Benfica 2-6 Barça Played full game

GS: Barça 6-0 Rosengard Unused sub

QF: Roma 0-1 Barça Subbed on, 66mins

QF: Barça 5-1 Roma Subbed on, 66mins

SF: Chelsea 0-1 Barça

Started, subbed off 60mins

SF: Barça 1-1 Chelsea Subbed on, 84mins (left)

Final: Barça 3-2 Wolfsburg Subbed on, 70mins

On the ball against Bayern Munich during last season’s group-stage encounter at Allianz Arena

PSG FÉMININE

Tonight’s opponents have been one of Europe’s top teams for a decade now but – unfortunately for them – don’t quite have the trophy cabinet to show for it, given they share a domestic league with eight-time Champions League winners Lyon.

PSG Féminine have been around for almost as long as the men’s side, formed in 1971 – the club as a whole being formed just a year earlier. Initially, they competed at regional level around Paris, before spending the 1980s and 1990s up and down between France’s first and second tiers. Since 2001, PSG have become a top-flight ever-present, lifting their first major trophy with the Coupe de France in 2010 and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time the following year after finishing runners-up to Lyon. But it was once Qatar Sports Investments took full control of the club in 2012 and the women’s side turned professional that the ball really started rolling.

Battling Lyon for domestic and European supremacy ever since, PSG have finished second in France’s D1F in nine of the last 11 seasons. On the sole occasion they finished lower – third in 2016/17 – they were Champions League runners-up (to, you guessed it, Lyon). Indeed, in D1F PSG are the only

team to have finished above Lyon in the last 17 years, having finally toppled their rivals in 2020/21 – PSG’s only league title. But Lyon have already gained an upper hand this term, winning 1-0 in Paris this month as well as taking the Trophee des Championnes (French Super Cup) when they met in September. There’s even been a managerial change in 2023/24 too, with Jocelyn Precheur promoted from assistant to replace his own father just three days before the league loss to Lyon.

On the pitch, Kadidiatou Diani, PSG’s top scorer last season, joined Lyon as a free agent during summer. But captain Grace Geyoro remains, alongside four other members of France’s World Cup squad. Malawi international Tabitha Chawinga has stepped into Diani’s shoes (on loan after a prolific year in Italy with Internazionale), while experienced overseas stars Lieke Martens and Ramona Bachmann complement the young French talent spread across the rest of the squad.

Amalie Vangsgaard, Elisa De Almeida and Oriane Jean-Francois push on for an equaliser in the recent D1F loss to Lyon

FAMILIAR FACE

JACKIE GROENEN

The midfielder is in her second year in Paris after three seasons and 60 appearances for United. She grew up watching clips of Johan Cruyff and being inspired by his style and technique, which the classy Dutch player has no shortage of herself. The 28-year-old was joined in Paris over the summer by fellow ex-Red Aissatou Tounkara.

RECENT LINE-UP

BACK FROM INJURY

MARIE-ANTOINETTE KATOTO

The no.9 was previously PSG’s top scorer for five straight seasons, finding the net 148 times in 163 games until missing the whole of 2022/23 with an ACL injury she suffered at Euro 2022 with France. The 24-year-old has been eased back in so far this season, with Precheur (and son) cautious of asking too much of her too soon.

THE KNOWLEDGE

● This is a first competitive meeting between United and PSG. The Reds won 1-0

JOCELYN PRECHEUR

Formerly assistant to his father, Precheur Jnr has been in the top job for just two weeks and tonight is only his third game in charge, after facing Lyon and Saint-Etienne (a 1-0 win on Friday). Despite the change, the rest of the staff have remained in place to ‘ensure the continuity of the sports project’ that began when Gerard Precheur was hired in 2022.

in a pre-season game in 2022 – Katie Zelem scored.

● PSG made their UWCL debut in 2011/12 and reached the last 16, losing

to FFC Frankfurt, who also beat them in the 2015 final.

● PSG have got to the UWCL semis or better in six of the last nine seasons.

● PSG’s all-time appearance maker is Sabrina Delannoy (321) – the defender was also captain for a club record nine years (2006-15).

v LYON (HOME, D1 FEMININE ) 01.10.23

PICAUD

CALLIGARIS

GEYORO JEAN-FRANCOIS GROENEN

VANGSGAARD KARCHAOUI

DE ALMEIDA

BALTIMORE CHAWINGA

LE GUILLY

SUBS USED: SAMOURA, KATOTO, BACHMANN, ALBERT

MANAGER

Sparking teamwork in your community

Since 2022, Barclays has helped over 2,500 groups make football more accessible through the Barclays Community Football Fund.

Search Barclays Community Football Fund to find out more

FAN GALLERY

SEND YOUR PHOTOS AND MESSAGES TO MUWOMENFAMILY@MANUTD.CO.UK

Happy 16th, Lauren (from Mirfield, West Yorkshire). Love Dad and Sarah.

‘Good luck to the team for the new season, our family will be here cheering you on!’ write the Coe family.

We hope you had a great 11th birthday Coco, love Mum & Dad.

Hello to Elizabeth, pictured at Old Trafford. We hope to see you back there for the big derby!

Charlotte

Hulme is a

ticket holder, and a superstar in goal. Her family are very proud!

‘Come on ladies, we’ve got you always!’ writes LSV regular Rebecca Calvert. Grace, Stu and Nieve are so glad that the season is back – and they’ll be cheering us on as ever this evening.

from Cheadle

season

Here’s Ellie, one of our most loyal fans who rarely misses a game here.

FACTS AND FUNNIES WITH THE UNITED MASCOT

EUROST RS

THREE CURRENT REDS HAVE LIFTED THE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TROPHY…

MELVINE MALARD, LYON (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 – right)

NIKITA PARRIS, LYON (2020 – left)

GEYSE, BARCA (2023 )

OUR FIRST FOES!

PSG JOIN A LIST OF SPECIAL OPPONENTS FOR UNITED…

LIVERPOOL First Conti Cup opponents (and first-ever fixture, 1-0!)

ASTON VILLA First league opponents – 12-0 in the Championship (right)

BRIGHTON First FA Cup opponents – 2-0 victory away from home

MANCHESTER CITY First WSL opponents (0-1 loss at the Etihad)

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN First European opponents... tonight!

REDS CROSSWORD

CAN YOU FILL IN ALL THE GAPS TO COMPLETE THE PUZZLE!

ACROSS

3. The Champions League is for clubs from this continent (6 letters)

5. PSG midfielder Jackie _______ used to play for United (7)

7. Which country do PSG call home? (6)

8. The ‘P’ in PSG stands for _____ (5)

DOWN

1. United’s one current French player is Melvine ______ (6)

2. The away game against PSG is the ______ leg of this tie (6)

4. Who are our next opponents after today’s game? (9)

6. Surname of our first WSL goalscorer of this season (6)

Europe; 5; Groenen; 7. France; 8. Paris; Down: 1. Malard; 2. Second; 4. Leicester; 6. Garcia

APPEARANCES, GOALS & ’23/24

● FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE TABLE

UNITED APPEARANCES AND GOALS, 2023/24

Galton’s goal on Friday moved her to within single figures of Toone’s all-time scoring record for the Reds

● WSL TOP SCORERS, 2022/23 SEASON

Earps looks set to make her 100th United appearance on Sunday

● WSL TOP ASSISTS, 2022/23 SEASON

FIXTURES & RESULTS

OCTOBER

UWCL Tue 10 PSG (H) 8pm

WSL Sun 15 Leicester City (H) 12pm

UWCL Wed 18 PSG (A) 7pm

WSL Sun 22 Everton (A) 1pm

NOVEMBER

WSL Sun 5 Brighton (A) 6.45pm

WSL Sun 12 West Ham (H) 12pm

UWCL 14/15 Group stage MD1

WSL Sun 19 Manchester City (H) 4.30pm

UWCL 22/23 Group stage MD2

WSL Sun 26 Bristol City (A) 2pm

WSL Sun 10 Tottenham (A) 2pm

UWCL 13/14 Group stage MD3

WSL Sun 17 Liverpool (H) 12pm

UWCL 20/21 Group stage MD4

DECEMBER JANUARY

FA Sun 14 Fourth round

WSL Sun 21 Chelsea (A) 12.30pm

UWCL 24/25 Group stage MD5

WSL Sun 28 Aston Villa (H) 12pm

UWCL 30/31 Group stage MD6

WSL Sun 4 Brighton (H) 12pm

CC 7/8 Quarter-finals

FA Sun 11 Fifth round

WSL Sat 17 Arsenal (A) 2pm

WSL Sun 3 West Ham (A) 3pm

CC 6/7 Semi-finals

FA Sun 10 Quarter-finals

WSL Sun 17 Bristol City (H) 12pm

UWCL 19/20

Quarter-finals, 1st leg

WSL Sun 24 Manchester City (A) 1pm

UWCL 27/28

Quarter-finals, 2nd leg

CC Sat 30 Final

WSL Sun 31 Everton (H) 12pm

FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL

FA Sun 14 Semi-finals

UWCL Sat 20 Semi-finals, 1st leg

WSL Sun 21 Tottenham (H), 12pm

UWCL Sat 27 Semi-finals, 2nd leg

WSL Sun 28 Leicester (A) 3pm

WSL Sun 5 Liverpool (A) 2pm

FA 11/12 Final

WSL Sat 18 Chelsea (H) TBC

UWCL 24-26 Final

FOLLOW THE REDS:

Facebook: manutdwomen

X/Twitter: @manutdwomen

YouTube: /ManUtd

Instagram: @manutdwomen

Match programme contact: MUWomenfamily@manutd.co.uk

For ticket information visit: ManUtd.com/Tickets

Garcia 1 Toone Galton Geyse Williams 1 Parris Miyazawa

Garcia Toone Galton 1 Geyse Williams Malard 1 Miyazawa

ADDED-TIME

QUIZ

WE SIGN OFF WITH SOME REDS-RELATED QUESTIONS... HOW

MANY CAN YOU GET RIGHT?

Un, deux, trois questions with links to our Gallic neighbours from over the Channel...

Which French player made more appearances for us: Aissatou Tounkara or Estelle Cascarino (below)?

Melvine Malard (right) joined United on loan from which French club?

Which summer signing faced France in the 2023 Women’s World Cup?

CAREER PATHS

Can you identify these current Reds from their clubs before they moved to United?

FOUR TO FINISH

A quartet of posers on recent fixtures and tonight’s competition...

Which two new faces made their first appearance in United’s starting line-up on the opening day of the WSL season?

Which English club have already been knocked out of the Women’s Champions League this season?

Who supplied the (deflected) cross for Rachel Williams’ winner against Aston Villa on the opening day of the season?

Which current Red was a Women’s Champions League runner-up in the 2020/21 season?

Aissatou Tounkara; 2. Lyon; 3. Geyse; 4. Hinata Miyazawa; 5. Lucia Garcia; 6. Ella Toone;

7. Gabby George and Geyse; 8. Arsenal; 9. Nikita Parris; 10. Hannah Blundell

1.

2.

3.

3.

MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN

Gabby George

Maya Le Tissier

Aoife Mannion

Hannah Blundell

Ella Toone

Irene Guerrero

Melvine Malard

Katie Zelem

Leah Galton

Hayley Ladd

Jayde Riviere

Gemma Evans

Lisa Naalsund

Lucia Garcia

Hinata Miyazawa

Millie Turner

Nikita Parris Geyse

Evie Rabjohn

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN FÉMININE

Katarzyna Kiedrzynek (GK)

Thiniba Samoura

Nicole Oyeyemisi Payne

Paulina Dudek

Elisa De Almeida

Oriane Jean-François

Sakina Karchaoui

Grace Geyoro

Marie-Antoinette Katoto

Ramona Bachmann

Lieke Martens

Jackie Groenen

Clare Hunt

Constance Picaud (GK)

Laurina Fazer

Viola Calligaris

Amalie Vangsgaard

Sandy Baltimore

Tabitha Chawinga

Aissatou Tounkara

Korbin Albert

Ana Vitoria

Jade Le Guilly

Manssita Traore

Oceane Toussaint (GK)

Head coach: Marc Skinner

Head coach: Jocelyn Precheur