Manchester United boss Marc Skinner said his side deserve “accolades and credit” after bouncing back from their first Barclays Women’s Super League loss of the season to thrash Liverpool 4-0.
After tasting defeat in their previous fixture against leaders Chelsea, United shut out the noise with an emphatic performance against their biggest rivals. After an even first half-hour, the Red Devils showed ruthlessness with a quickfire double before halftime and added to their tally with smart finishes from Dominique Janssen and Melvine Malard in the second half.
The win came against the backdrop of sporting director Dan Ashworth’s surprise departure from the club after just a few months, something Skinner faced questions on given Ashworth’s strong links to the women’s team.
What did Marc Skinner say?
“I thought we were good. When we don’t meet our high standards in prior games we face criticism, but when we do play well and we’re dominant, then we deserve the accolades and the credit. I thought the players were excellent today, I thought their attitude was excellent. We have tasked ourselves in these three games to get at teams and get back to where we want to be, which is attacking and being aggressive.”
United’s performance will allay at least some concerns about their attacking output, with this being their biggest scoreline of the season so far. After struggling to assert full control at first, Skinner praised his side for their quick double before halftime – Elisabeth Terland put United ahead on 33 minutes and Leah Galton latched on to a long ball to make it two just 19 seconds after Liverpool kicked back off.
Embed from Getty Images“It’s always good to get a back-to-back goal. It was a pretty even game up until that point I think. The second half was much more comfortable. It was one of those games when you come back after the international break and there’s not that cohesion. I thought we managed that better.”
Dominique Janssen came in for praise after registering two assists and her first goal in United colours, as did keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and midfielders Grace Clinton and Hinata Miyazawa – who proved a capable deputy to the injured Ella Toone.
“We’re covering spaces really well in midfield and it gives a protection to the backline. What I want to add to us is that we attack more so we defend less. That’s what we’ve always been good at but we’ve moved away from that this year so we want to get back to that.”
He added specifically on Janssen: “She is not a passive player, she wants to play progressive passes, so she will get it wrong at times – but I thought today she got that bang on and I want to see her continue in that confident vein.”
Not for the first time, Skinner was called upon to answer questions about the off-pitch events at United. Sporting director Dan Ashworth’s departure after only a few months in his role was announced in the hours before the game, news that carries significance for the women’s side. Skinner had previously praised Ashworth’s involvement and interest, and his experience in women’s football was seen as a positive for the women’s side being integrated with the wider club. Reports have largely attributed Ashworth’s departure to matters concerning the men’s team.
Embed from Getty ImagesSkinner confirmed he was told the news on Sunday morning, and when asked for his reaction said: “I have a three-game week. My focus is solely on today, beating Liverpool. I didn’t know any of the news. I’m not privy to those decisions. My comment at this moment is I will focus now on Newcastle and on Crystal Palace. My job is to stay here and win games of football.”
The manager also told reporters the club’s “robust” recruitment team would be unaffected by Ashworth’s departure, with the likes of Matt Johnson and Harvey Bussell continuing to work on January business. “We have a team and Dan was in that – but it will continue. It’s built for that purpose so it can be robust and continue.”
Skinner said: “Wherever I am at any club, we have to produce performances to be successful. We have to win games of football. I don’t know what it will look like after this moment, I don’t think anyone knows. What I know about the club is it has a love and affinity with our women’s team.
“I know the love for our team is there. I don’t know what that path looks like quite yet but I’m sure that’s a part of the planning process from above.
I want us as a team to focus on what we can control, which is the football part. I know we can be and are a massive part of the club. We need to work out what that looks like. We’re finding out that information of course as freshly as you are. My focus today was Liverpool – now I’ll see over the next few weeks how it unfolds.”
United face Newcastle in the League Cup at home on Wednesday evening before travelling to Crystal Palace on Sunday for their final fixture of 2024.