Reassuring fitness update after Everton game

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Sunday 30 March 2025 16:21

Marc Skinner gave a reassuring update in his post-match press conference about several key United players who seemed to pick up a knock in Sunday’s hard-fought WSL contest with Everton.

The Reds won it 2-0, netting twice and keeping a clean sheet to secure three points that take us one step closer to Champions League football for next season.

A first half tap-in for Dominique Janssen and a second-half goal for Grace Clinton did the damage, on what was a positive Sunday afternoon at Leigh Sports Village.

The only blots on the copybook were a series of a knocks taken by several Reds over the course of a physical encounter, although Marc has since given reason to ease any qualms.

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Jayde Riviere was able to carry on and complete 88 minutes after going down in the first half, while Celin Bizet and Leah Galton both came off after receiving treatment in the second half. Skinner did, however, give a positive update on their respective situations in his press conference, saying: “Jayde just took a knock on her ankle from that collision. Hopefully, it’ll be absolutely fine.

“Leah was, I think, more precautionary and Celin exactly the same. So for us, I’m hoping that we’re assessing Celin. I wouldn’t imagine it’s too long, but we’ll see if she goes away on international duty, just because, obviously she had to come off for the second game running with a similar situation. So we’ll check on her to see whether we make a decision about international duty.”

During his post-match MUTV chat with Zarah Connolly, Marc also gave an insight as to why goalscorer Grace Clinton was subbed just after the hour mark, explaining: “Grace had a bit of illness this week so we changed her. Again, maturity from her to recognise the game was run and she needed to come off.”

At full-time, Marc spoke about the fitness of Millie Turner too, after our no.21 missed her first game of the season and was replaced in the backline by Janssen.

“Millie was a slight strain from the Villa game, and it [today’s game] came literally a day too early,” he added.

“If it was Monday, she’d have been fine, and obviously Gabby [George] was suspended. So I felt that Anna [Sandberg at left-back] was fantastic – first 90 completed for her in a while and obviously Dom stepping in at centre half… she’s played [there] for Wolfsburg in Champions League, so I know that she’s perfectly suited to that environment.

“Everton are one of the hardest teams to play against in terms of understanding their structure. They have a lot of rotation. They play from a box to a diamond shape in midfield. So if you want to get pressure on, you have to commit defenders into that space, which I thought Dom was perfect for, because of her being a natural midfield decision-maker anyway.”

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WHAT ELSE DID MARC SAY IN HIS PRESSER?

Well, today’s win means United now just need two wins from our last four WSL games in 2024/25 to guarantee Champions League football next season, and the boss spoke about the potential of having European matches on next season’s schedule.

“You have to plan for that,” he insisted. “I’ll let the people around and upstairs do the planning for that. For me, I’ve got four games in the league and one in the cup, so I’ve got to plan to try and win all of those games.

“We will take West Ham the most serious, because they’re the next one in line in terms of the league. And obviously, we’ve got a big game against City coming up in the cup, so two massive games, but we will just take them as they come.”

He also reinforced his delight with the way United approached Sunday’s win over Everton, a side who have been steadily climbing the WSL rankings over recent months, after a slow start to the campaign.

“You drop a second and Everton easily have the quality to beat us today.

“So that’s what I’m really pleased with, the energy, commitment, but concentration. I said at half-time, the biggest detail was the concentration of the players, because when they rotate, it only takes a second step, and they play the ball behind, and they’re in.

“So, I felt Maya [Le Tissier] really dominated their frontline today with Dom, and I felt that they were limited.”

Skinner then went on to finish with particularly high praise for how the aforementioned Le Tissier has stepped up this season, in her new role as captain.

“I just think that she’s an impressive human,” he said. “She has grown. She’s not scared of things. She’s got so much growth still to come from her performances, with and without the ball, but more importantly, the growth she’s made as a leader this year is amazing.

“Captaincy is about leading as well as performing your own role, but she leads the group, and she’s going to learn so much more. I mean, she could be one of the greatest ever to play for Manchester United. I genuinely believe that.

“So my challenge for her is to stay in the zone she’s in, she’s in a great groove, and just to keep pushing us forwards.”

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Sunday 30 March 2025 16:21