Manchester United Faces Setback Against Aston Villa in WSL

Marc Skinner’s Manchester United experienced their first defeat of the Women’s Super League (WSL) season, falling 1-0 to Aston Villa. Just days prior, Skinner had expressed confidence in his team’s impressive start, highlighting their position at the top of the goalscoring charts and asserting they were playing some of their best football ever.

However, following the disappointing performance against Villa, Skinner’s tone shifted significantly. He described the match as “very flat,” and the players left the pitch visibly dejected. This loss was particularly impactful as a victory would have propelled United to the top of the league, given Chelsea’s draw with Arsenal. Instead, United finds themselves three points behind the reigning champions.

Skinner acknowledged that this could be a moment he reflects upon later in the season when the competition intensifies. “To think about the table now is a bit crazy. We don’t really look at other teams so we don’t care about other results,” said United’s captain, Maya le Tissier, emphasizing a focus on their own performance.

Despite the setback, Skinner was adamant about avoiding any overreaction. He noted that flat performances are inherent in a long season and reiterated that similar outcomes can occur, citing Villa’s goal as a scrappy result from a set-piece.

He emphasized the need for the team to improve their execution and fundamentals, as both he and le Tissier acknowledged that the basics were not executed well in this match. Looking ahead, Skinner is focused on turning the page quickly, with a pivotal week on the horizon that includes a Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain and a derby against Manchester City.

“As a collective, we’ll move forward and be better going into the PSG game,” Skinner stated, expressing confidence in the team’s resilience to bounce back and use this experience as motivation for the upcoming challenges.