Skinner: Brann 'such a dominant team' | OneFootball

Marc Skinner has cautioned that Manchester United's upcoming Champions League qualifying game against Brann will be a 'difficult tie'.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's game, the United manager praised the upcoming opposition: "It’s hard because when you watch most of their games, because they’re such a dominant team in Norway, they tend to have a lot of the ball.

"So, you don’t really see them defend that much. We know about Signe Gaupset in midfield but their frontline can be really aggressive, and they play a good style of football. So, this will be a difficult tie.

"We’ve watched all their games, the two recent qualification games as well. We know the team that we’re playing against, we’ve got to be professional, we’ve got to give high energy. I think there’s something like 14,000 tickets sold, so it’s going to be a raucous atmosphere, but I think the Hammarby game probably prepared us for that.

"Expect similar quality, can score goals, can defend because they keep clean sheets as well, but I want to see if we can be the team that makes them defend a little bit more."

There was also a fitness update with Gabrielle George and new signing Fridolina Rolfö both out of this first leg but potentially available for the WSL game against London City Lionesses at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Rachel Williams should be returning within the next weeks while Simi Awujo and Leah Galton are expected to be out for slightly longer. Hannah Blundell, who missed the entire 2024/25 campaign after her pregnancy, will also feature for the U21 side as she returns to fitness.

While United's squad looks thin on paper for a team hoping to be competing on four fronts this season, Skinner did underline the European experience that both Rolfö, Julia Zigiotti Olme, and late signing Jess Park will bring.

"It’s something we’ve needed. We’ve got a great, energetic, young, growing group and I think, in this window, we needed to add that experience.

"It’s given us the opportunity to make better decisions in intense moments. That’s really the key to experience. It’s knowing that you trust yourselves when the nerves kick in.

"For us, it’s vital if we’re going to go into these two games and then hopefully qualify for the Champions League proper. If we do, then we’ll need that vital experience."