TeamViewer Trending: Jayde Riviere

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Friday 04 April 2025 16:00

Manchester United Women responded perfectly to a surprise defeat to Liverpool last month, with an impressive 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League, and creative force Jayde Riviere was, once again, key to victory.

After the disappointment that followed only our second league defeat of the campaign, the Reds needed a statement victory, and pulled it off in style at Villa Park. 

In-form Elisabeth Terland rattled in two goals to put United ahead, Grace Clinton stole the show with an audacious lob to make it three, and Leah Galton slotted home a fourth in the second half – but one of United’s standout performers of the game was Jayde Riviere.

The Canadian full-back assisted Terland’s second goal with a precise lofted ball that sliced open Aston Villa’s defence and landed perfectly for the Norwegian to head home. 

But that was far from her only contribution of the day, and just one example of how the 24-year-old is increasingly playing her part in not just United’s industrious defence, but our attack too.

STANDOUT MOMENT

Jayde’s one-on-one defensive abilities and capability as part of United’s solid backline have been evident for a long time, but the 2024/25 season has seen the attacking dimension of her game grow leaps and bounds.

The explosive pace that helps her compete with the speediest of wingers can also be turned on to add extra width in attacks. That has paid dividends in recent matches where Jayde’s runs on the right, in partnership with Celin Bizet, have got her into positions to create some crucial goals. She turned provider for Terland again in February at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, creating the match-winning goal with a first-time cross that was on a plate for the striker to volley home.

Even when her work doesn’t count for a direct assist, Jayde still plays a pivotal role in creating many of United’s attacks. For the opening goal against Villa, Celin and Jayde’s partnership flourished again. After receiving the ball from Maya Le Tissier, the full-back spotted Bizet’s run in the channel and perfectly weighted a pass that somehow curled out of the reach of Villa’s Paula Tomás but ran into the path of the United winger – who crossed for Terland to finish.

Of course, her defensive duties are never neglected either. In United’s famous 4-2 derby win at the Etihad, there wasn’t a blade of grass on the right-hand side that Jayde didn’t cover. She played the most passes into the final third of any player on the pitch, but was equally critical at the other end. Some especially acrobatic blocks late in the second half stopped City from putting dangerous crosses into the box at their most threatening point of the game.

PERFORMANCE INSIGHT

Jayde’s time at the club has not been without trials. When she arrived at United in January 2023, the Canadian was rehabbing an injury, and her debut was delayed until the end of the season. While she impressed in the 2023/24 campaign, there were again frustrating injury setbacks that saw her miss out on parts of 2024. 

Now, though, she’s enjoying an extended spell free of injuries and highlights how her confidence has grown this season. Speaking to Mariam Kourabi from SHE Scores Bangers in February, Jayde was asked what aspects of her game have improved most since becoming a regular starter:

“I think confidence, honestly, is one of the things. I always knew that I had potential, I think it was just about when I was able to consistently be available [because I always dealt with injuries] and be able to show people what I could do.

“Once I started to get a lot of games under my belt, I think I naturally just gained confidence through that, obviously through my team-mates as well. Since then I’ve been able to put everything aside and just be able to play freely, and, for me, I know I play the best when I do play freely.”

She’s certainly been playing her best and has been crucial in the team’s stellar defensive record. The Reds have conceded fewer goals than anyone in the division, including keeping 12 clean sheets in 18 games – 14 of which the Canadian has started. 

However, it’s going forward that her prowess has been most evident this season and particularly in partnership with summer signing Bizet. In United’s win over Brighton at Leigh Sports Village in January, the positional understanding between the pair was particularly clear as they frequently switched places, covered one another’s roles, and provided a consistent and cohesive press that the Seagulls had no answer to.

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WHAT JAYDE SAID

“Something I’ve spoken about since being here, is just how much I’ve progressed as a person and a player. Ultimately, you want to play in an environment where you’re playing with the best of the best, and you’re being challenged and pushed in that environment. I am being pushed every single day by my team-mates. I’m being pushed every single day by the staff that are there because you’re at a huge club that expects that from you.

“But, for me, I think that where I was before signing, and where I am now, is a little bit of night and day. For me, I think I’ve been able to show, hopefully the fans and everyone, what I’m capable of doing, and I just want to continue to push those standards forward.”

WHAT THEY SAID

“Jayde is a talented young player who is ambitious and determined with the potential to be world-class,” said United’s interim head of women’s football Matt Johnson, after Riviere agreed a new contract with the club in January. 

“She has already achieved a lot at a relatively young age, but we know there is more to come, and we are delighted that she will continue her development at Manchester United.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Together, Bizet and Riviere have assisted five of top scorer Elisabeth Terland’s nine WSL goals this season, thanks to their top-class deliveries from the right wing.

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Friday 04 April 2025 16:00

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