Without doubt Marc Skinner is one of the most talked about managers in the Women’s Super League.
Manchester United’s global profile means scrutiny over their results will always be intense, with the most vociferous critique often coming from within the clubs own fanbase.
For the majority of 2024, sections of the Manchester United support – both online and more notably in the stands at games – have made it clear they feel a head coaching change is needed.
Winning, often, but not always, silences critics. A 2-0 victory away to a struggling Leicester City understandably won’t appease those who crave the offensive clarity which still hasn’t been resolved nearly 18 months on from Alessia Russo’s departure.
However, from a more optimistic perspective, the performance I witnessed from the stands further reinforced Manchester United’s current greatest strength – their defence.
Never before has the club conceded just two goals from their opening seven WSL games. Manchester City are the only other team to concede fewer – during the starts they made in 2016 en route to winning the title, and in 2019-20, where they eventually finished runners-up.
Speaking to the group of radio reporters afterwards Skinner was keen to highlight “another clean sheet”, demonstrative with his delight at restricting Leicester to just one shot on target, and notably proud of how well they “defended as a team”.
Further encouragement comes via the numbers put up by Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who has been rewarded with a call-up to the USA national side. No other WSL goalkeeper has ever kept more than the five clean sheets she has registered in her first seven appearances in the English top flight.
Another is the form of Gabby George, whose performances have surely caught the eye of Sarina Wiegman ahead of tomorrow’s Lionesses squad announcement.
Sir Alex Ferguson famously once said “attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”.
Whilst I don’t believe Manchester United will go on to be crowned champions this season, Skinner’s defensive nous is something to be admired heading into their toughest league test so far, away to the only other unbeaten side, Chelsea.
