With Manchester United preparing for their final league fixture of the season after last weekend’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup triumph, Marc Skinner addressed the media earlier this week.
Skinner’s Red Devils will face Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday, capable of denying Emma Hayes a fifth successive Barclays Women’s Super League title if Manchester City can better Chelsea’s result in their concurrent match at Villa Park.
Chelsea suffered their first-ever defeat to United at the semifinal stage of the competition, and Skinner stressed that Saturday’s match will feature ‘loads of narratives. It depends on what angle you look at.’
‘We know how difficult it is to play against Chelsea. Even in the semifinal where we won, there were moments we had to dig deep and defend. Chelsea can attack any team throughout the land. We’ve got to be at our very best.’
Embed from Getty ImagesThe 41-year-old, who penned a contract extension on Friday to bring an end to uncertainty over his future, expressed a hope that the Old Trafford clash can be ‘a showpiece’ for the club if they can ‘come off the back of an FA Cup win and show everybody the experiences that we’ve had and use it as a growth moment again.’
‘Having success at the weekend and then coming into a big game like this, hopefully, it gives us that impetus and it’s a platform we want to build from.’
With the season coming to a close this weekend, attention then turns to the summer transfer window. For Manchester United, the focal point is set to be Grace Clinton. The midfielder has spent the last season on loan at Tottenham, and the Lilywhites are keen to secure the England international on a permanent deal.
Skinner hopes that his side can keep hold of Clinton though, insisting that ‘we don’t get the credit that we identified her qualities at Everton, brought her to Manchester United, gave her six months, sent her on loan at Bristol – she got experience.’
‘She then went on loan to Tottenham to get more experience. I don’t think people recognise that there is a plan for each individual we bring into the club. I want to bring her back to the club and be part of what we’re doing because I think she has a huge say in how we’ll play.’