Marc Skinner aiming to rotate more next season as Man Utd embark on UWCL journey
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner intends to hand players 'a lot more game time' next season as the club faces Champions League football for the first time.
United secured a place in the competition’s second qualifying round by virtue of their highest ever WSL finish, ending the 2022/23 as runners-up just behind Chelsea.
The qualifying round itself could throw up a tremendously difficult opponent, with United eligible to draw the likes of Wolfsburg, Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid. But should they successfully get through and reach the group stage, it guarantees six more Champions League games.
"We're going to the second round where we can play some extremely experienced teams. What a challenge. It's something we're looking forward to," Skinner told the latest UTD Podcast.
"We're going to give it absolutely everything, because I'd love our fans away on tour, on a European tour, [that] would be wonderful."
This past season, Skinner often rotated his team for the Conti Cup, but stuck with a very settled side for the WSL and FA Cup. By his own admission, he won’t have that luxury should United be competing at the highest level in midweek games in additional to balancing domestic football.
"I have to, by the nature of the competition, should we make Champions League group stage, rotate more. Absolutely," the boss went on to explain.
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"[That's] something that was thrown at me this year, but again, when you come back to those statistics and how we've performed, I've [got] a lot of answers for those critics.
"But there's going to be a lot more game time for players next year, to navigate some of the tough games, where it's a midweek game away and then going into a tough challenge on a weekend."
Skinner has previously spoken about the need to also go hard in the transfer market this summer to recruit top quality players. United’s dual-edged strategy will see them target a mixture of readymade internationals and emerging talents that can be developed.
The club has already secured a deal for 18-year-old full-back Evie Rabjohn and is on course to land 17-year-old Scotland international Emma Watson. Netherlands winger Esmee Brugts, albeit only 19, is a target expected to have more immediate first-team impact.
United are additionally still hoping to retain a number of key players out of contract. A 12-month option for Mary Earps has been triggered but the club would prefer to hammer out a long-term extension. Arsenal are hoping to sign Alessia Russo, who is also of interest to others teams, while Ona Batlle has an agreement with Barcelona but is yet to make a final decision on her future.