In December Sir Jim Ratcliffe described Manchester United’s women’s team as an “opportunity”.
Since taking over as the club’s co-owner, Ratcliffe has made a series of comments that appeared to indicate an indifference and disinterest in their affairs. But, however he meant it, Ratcliffe was not wrong when he used the word opportunity.
United’s 2-0 victory over rivals Manchester City on Sunday saw them reach a third successive FA Cup final at Wembley. They won the competition last year and will retain the trophy if they can get past Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea, who are chasing a quadruple. United, in third, are seven points clear of fourth-placed City in the league and are on course to qualify for the Champions League.
Ratcliffe has maintained that his main focus since taking over has been the men’s team, but he admitted earlier this year that the women are performing better. Yesterday was another example of why Marc Skinner’s side deserve to be backed.
It has not been easy for Skinner, who signed a new two-year contract, with the option for an extra year, earlier this month. He had to deal with the fall-out of United moving the women’s team out of their training facility to accommodate the men in the summer. He has also had to answer questions about Ratcliffe’s clumsy remarks. Skinner is competing with clubs that spend more money – United did not break the bank on transfers in the summer and only signed a reserve goalkeeper in January – and he is doing it all while being unpopular with a large section of the fanbase.
Despite the team’s FA Cup triumph, many supporters wanted Skinner sacked last season after United finished fifth, their lowest position in WSL history. While sections of the fanbase remain unconvinced, there is no denying United are enjoying a much better campaign this time around. They have conceded the fewest number of goals in the WSL and, barring a 3-0 defeat at Liverpool, their performances have been consistent. If they can keep this team together and add to it in the summer, there is no reason why they cannot compete for more trophies.
Omar Berrada, the club’s chief executive, and Collette Roche, the chief operating officer, were at the Joie Stadium to watch United’s victory. Berrada previously played a key role in helping to oversee the growth of City’s women’s team and, while Ratcliffe may ultimately be indifferent, he is understood to be passionate about making a success of this United team.
“I think it [more backing] will come, I know people question that,” Skinner said. “That’s their prerogative, that’s them trying to start fires. Omar was here today, Collette was here today, they’re fully behind what we’re doing.
“We’ve got to grow it in a sustainable way. We’re not going to do what other teams have done, which is just throw lumps of cash at it, even though I’d love that because it makes your job that little bit easier. I’ve signed a new contract because that’s the challenge I’ve accepted. If we can do that, then we’ll create something historic.”
Much of City’s struggles this season have come down to their mounting injury crisis. They have been without key players Bunny Shaw, Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp for much of the season. They were missing nine players due to injury before Mary Fowler limped off in the first half with what looked to be a serious knee injury.
“I think the injury crisis needs to be examined 100 per cent,” City’s interim boss Nick Cushing said.
“With so many injuries, they can’t all be bad luck but they can’t all be down to poor practice. It’s a process we’ll go into at the end of the season and review it.”
City named a six-player bench made up of two goalkeepers and four defenders, including 17-year-old Sacha Lewis, who is the sister of men’s first-team player Rico. After Celin Bizet and Grace Clinton had put United ahead in the first half – the second goal coming while the hosts were down to 10 players due to Fowler’s injury – City never really looked like getting back into the game.
Television picks for the Premier League are yet to be confirmed but there is a chance the Women’s FA Cup final, which will take place on Sunday May 18, will clash with the visit of Ruben Amorim’s side to Chelsea on that day. Ratcliffe was widely criticised for missing the women’s final last season to watch the men’s game with Arsenal. He would be wise not to make the same decision this time around but his attendance or lack of at Wembley is a minor issue in comparison to the resources afforded to the women’s team. They are extremely well supported by their fans, as evidenced by the sea of red in the away end and the odd infiltrator in the home stands.
Ratcliffe does not have to champion the women’s game, he just has to back his team. The opportunity for success is there if the club really wants it.
Manchester City (4-3-3): Keating 6; Casparij 5, Aleixandri 5, Prior 5, Ouahabi 4; Hasegawa 6, Coombs 5, Park 5; Kerolin 5, Fowler 5 (Layzell 25), Murphy 5 (Wienroither 82).
Subs: Yamashita, Oyama, Startup, Lewis.
Booked: Layzell.
Manchester United (4-3-3): Tullis-Joyce 7; Riviere 7 (Malard 87), Le Tissier 8, Turner 8, George 7 (Sandberg 82); Miyazawa 7, Clinton 8 (Janssen 69), Toone 8 (Naalsund 82); Bizet 7 (Mannion 87), Terland 7, Galton 7.
Subs: Rendell, Awujo, Williams, Middleton-Patel.
Booked: Tullis-Joyce, Le Tissier, Clinton.
Goals: Bizet 6, Clinton 22
Referee: Stacey Pearson
