Manchester United manager Marc Skinner maintains his squad possesses the capability to overturn their quarter-final deficit against Bayern Munich in the Women's Champions League, despite falling short in Wednesday's Old Trafford encounter.

The Red Devils absorbed a 3-2 setback in the opening leg of their last-eight clash, leaving the tie delicately poised ahead of the return fixture.

Momoko Tanikawa's late intervention in the 84th minute ultimately separated the sides after United had responded to Pernille Harder's brace through Maya Le Tissier's spot-kick and Hanna Lundkvist's header.

Reflecting on the defensive lapses, Skinner acknowledged his frustration with the manner in which Bayern constructed their goals. The United boss noted that his side afforded Harder excessive space on two occasions, while the overall defensive structure required tightening.

However, the manager emphasized his squad's capacity for self-assessment and improvement, expressing confidence in their ability to address these vulnerabilities ahead of the decisive second leg.

Skinner dismissed suggestions that inexperience contributed to the result, instead attributing the outcome to Bayern's tactical adjustment. The German side deviated from their characteristic possession-oriented approach, deploying a more direct strategy that caught United off-guard.

The tactical shift represents a learning opportunity for United, who now face the challenge of adapting their game plan for the Allianz Arena showdown.

Despite the deficit, Skinner remains bullish about his team's prospects, insisting the tie remains very much alive heading into the away leg.

United's preparation for the crucial return fixture will be complicated by a demanding domestic schedule, with a Women's Super League derby against table-topping Manchester City scheduled for Saturday.

Skinner acknowledged the physical and mental demands ahead, framing both fixtures as significant opportunities despite the compressed timeline and challenging opposition.

Bayern's head coach Jose Barcala struck a measured tone following his side's advantage, cautioning against complacency ahead of the second leg.

Barcala stressed the importance of maintaining perspective and humility, emphasizing that his squad must extract tactical lessons from the first encounter to secure their progression.

The German side will look to consolidate their position while remaining vigilant about United's attacking threat in the return fixture.