Marc Skinner said Manchester United were forced to adapt their game plan due to players’ fitness in their derby loss to rivals Manchester City.
Tonight’s 1-2 loss to City sees United exit the Subway Women’s League Cup only a few days after beating City at the Etihad. Though Millie Turner cancelled out Laura Coombs’ opener in the first half hour, Lily Murphy’s goal for City on the stroke of halftime proved the difference between the sides – though Skinner did feel United were denied a penalty in the second half when Elisabeth Terland and City keeper Khiara Keating collided in the box.
What did Marc Skinner say?
“It was a pretty balanced game, there’s not a lot in it. I think the key decision in the game has gone against us, which is the penalty – I think it’s a penalty, when (Elisabeth Terland) goes through and then Khiara (Keating) takes her out. That’s a penalty, she doesn’t touch the ball – Teri touches the ball first and then gets wiped out, so that’s a penalty. That’s how we see it. I think that’s a key decision in the game that then gives you an opportunity to get back into the game.
Embed from Getty Images“We defended the goals poorly for us, we need to be better at that. But the reality is if we want some freshness then we have to rotate, and I thought there was some good performances from the players that came in.”
The United boss told reporters yesterday that getting rotation right would be key in achieving a result, and admitted tonight’s approach had looked slightly different to how he had planned it.
“It was hard because at halftime we were given information that a few of our players were on tight hamstrings, niggles, so we had to adapt slightly. The game plan was different and had to change in the game. “
Skinner explained that Millie Turner was withdrawn as a precaution at halftime, as was Melvine Malard later in the second half.
These challenges come in the middle of a three-game week for United, who had tough decisions to make in balancing the importance of this cup tie with their upcoming league fixture against Brighton. Asked if he regretted not starting certain players such as Sunday’s hattrick scorer Ella Toone, Skinner said: “After the performance she put in the other day, the work, energy and so on, after she’s just come back from injury, you have to be sensible because we can’t afford to be losing these players this early before we go into a packed end of the season.”
United did not look as cohesive or aggressive in their press as they had in Sunday’s 4-2 victory over City. When pressed on the game plan for tonight’s fixture, Skinner admitted: “It wasn’t exacted as well as it needed to be at times. It was to put pressure on the first half, but there was a little bit of misunderstanding in some of the situations where there was a jump – we were going to jump on the left-hand side this time, where we jumped on the right-hand side – and we just got the midfield and forward line a little bit mixed up at times, so some decision making in games which we adapted and obviously in the second half got way more pressure on that situation.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe added: “Manchester City went more direct, it spreads the game a little bit – so you’re naturally going to be in a position where you’re pressing but then they go over it.
“Again it’s a game of transition when it opens up like that, and Manchester City don’t usually play that way.” He felt his side weren’t “caught out” by the change, but that it might explain why the likes of Hinata Miyazawa appeared isolated – and also remarked that young midfielder Simi Awujo, brought in as one of seven changes from Sunday’s lineup, had “loads of learning” from the game.
Now out of the Subway Women’s League Cup, United’s focus shifts back – along with their ongoing FA Cup defence – to the Barclays Women’s Super League, where they sit in the Champions League qualification spots after Sunday’s win. On his priorities for the remainder of the season, Skinner said: “I think if you put it on a scale, the priority is to try and get into Champions League.
“We did want to win the game tonight, we’ve given all we had available with trying to plan ahead. The reality is when we look at the game against Brighton we know that’s going to be difficult too.”
“I don’t think we prioritised Sunday over this, we wanted to win it, but in the grand scheme of things I suppose trying to get into Champions League is the priority.”
United’s next game is against Brighton on Sunday 26th January at 18:45.
