11 October 2023 , 10:49
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Manchester United captain Katie Zelem believes squad depth will help her team deal with their maiden women's Champions League voyage.
United drew 1-1 with PSG in the first leg of their second round qualifying tie, meaning a win in the return game will send the WSL outfit through to the group stage. Melvine Malard scored after coming off the bench for her second in as many games, with her 70th minute equaliser ensuring a positive result for Marc Skinner's team.
Tabitha Chawinga had put the Division 1 Feminine runners-up ahead, but United were much stronger after going behind and created the better chances. As well as Malard, Skinner introduced World Cup Golden Boot winner Hinata Miyazawa and Brazilian forward Geyse from the bench, turning the tide of the contest.
The trio of summer signings have made a positive start to their United careers, adding depth to the ranks. And skipper Zelem feels this is the biggest difference between the United team of this season and those from previous campaigns.
"The substitutions we made were unbelievable," Zelem, who previously played in the tournament for Liverpool and Juventus, told MUTV. "All the girls that came on had a huge impact, you could see the new lease of energy that came into the side.
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"Melvine can't stop scoring at the moment, but it is credit to all the girls. Every single one of them that came on... we've got real pace and power and can turn teams inside out.
"100 per cent we'll need it (squad depth) in previous years we've not had the depth in the squad that we would have liked. This year, every single person in the squad is capable of starting and playing no matter what game it is. Whatever team is selected, we fully back each other."
United have been handed a tough task by facing the French runners-up in the qualifying stage, who reached the last eight last season. After the first leg, manager Skinner said the tie should be a Champions League quarter-final rather than a qualifier, amid ongoing calls for the competition format to be redressed.
Arsenal have already been dumped out at the qualifying stage after losing to Paris FC last month. But the Red Devils will avoid the same fate if they can win away next week against PSG, something Chelsea did in the same tournament last season.
And United and England defender Maya Le Tissier still believes the tie is finely poised ahead of the return leg in Paris, following her sides' strong second half showing.
Melvine Mallard of Manchester United Women celebrates scoring the equaliser against PSG with Geyse (Charlotte Tattersall - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)"It was unbelievable," Le Tissier said. "It was my dream to play Champions League football, just hearing the anthem I was getting goose bumps.
"We had to weather the storm at times but that is what you have to do in these types of games. We had a plan and second half we executed it a little better.
"We came away with a 1-1, we can be pleased with that, but I think it is all to play for in Paris. We were braver on the ball and we've got fantastic players in one v ones with the ball."