Since reforming its women’s team seven years ago, Manchester United have been working towards having weeks like this. On Friday night, they face champions Chelsea in a huge clash at the top of the Women’s Super League. Then, five days later, they host Valerenga in their first-ever game in the Women’s Champions League proper. So much work has been done to get the Red Devils to this point, where they are in Europe’s premier competition and battling for the top domestic honours, and yet, it just doesn’t feel like they are ready for the challenge ahead.

Over the course of the next three months, United will face some huge fixtures and extremely demanding weeks. The middle of November stands out, when Paris Saint-Germain’s trip to Old Trafford is followed four days later by the first Manchester derby of the season. Just for good measure, United will then travel to Germany to face two-time Champions League winners Wolfsburg three days after that.

But it’s not just the games with the big names that are important. All of these two-game weeks are vital if United want to progress in Europe and challenge in the WSL, with them needing to bring their top level every few days in order to get the results needed to do so. It’s a schedule that only a well-built squad can manage and, unfortunately, it’s hard to say that United have that at this moment.