Mary Earps Reflects on Mixed Emotions Returning to Old Trafford

Mary Earps made her return to Old Trafford amidst considerable media attention following the release of her autobiography. In it, she discusses her relationship with her Lionesses successor, Hannah Hampton, and shares her dissatisfaction regarding the circumstances surrounding the end of her tenure at Manchester United.

This controversy likely influenced her reception at the Theatre of Dreams. While some fans applauded her during the warm-up, a segment of the crowd jeered her throughout the match. Nevertheless, the majority responded with cheers, and Earps received a warm farewell as she exited the pitch after her team suffered their third defeat in this season’s Champions League.

During the match, Earps was tasked with retrieving the ball from her net twice, with Melvine Malard scoring the opener and Fridolina Rolfo netting the winner shortly after the hour mark.

Despite the mixed emotions surrounding her return, the former Lionesses star maintained an optimistic tone on her personal Instagram account. She posted, “Not the result we wanted but it was truly special to be back at Old Trafford last night. Thank you for the warm welcome back; it meant more than you know. Good luck for the rest of the season.”

Earps has expressed her desire to conclude her career at Manchester United, having joined the club from Wolfsburg in 2019 before departing on a free transfer in 2024. Her dissatisfaction with the club’s leadership appears to stem from a perceived lack of investment in the women’s team. After Euro 2022, the club vowed to relocate the women’s team to their Carrington training facility, alongside the men’s squad, yet this move did not materialize until the summer of 2023. Earps noted that this delay made the announcement feel more like a “publicity exercise” than a genuine commitment.

Following her impressive performance in the 2023 World Cup, where she won the Golden Glove award and reached the final with England, Arsenal reportedly submitted a £100,000 bid for her services, which United rejected without consulting her. She described this experience as “dizzying.”

Though initially granted a contract extension in 2023, discussions regarding her future were not resumed until the end of the 2023/2024 season. Although United eventually made a competitive offer, she felt the club had not progressed toward their Champions League ambitions and had also failed to inform her about the need for the women’s team to vacate their facilities during renovations at Carrington. Ultimately, she signed a two-year deal with Les Parisiens.

Despite her candid reflections, United manager Mark Skinner praised Earps and shared his advice during their conversation following the game. “I said to her at the end, ‘Look after yourself,’ as we have discussed mental health and its impacts before,” he said. “Mary is extremely intelligent and has been at the pinnacle of her sport. She understands the dynamics of the game she plays in, and it was a lovely atmosphere with her receiving cheers as she walked off the pitch at the end of the match. Hopefully, that will support her during this time. She has been an integral part of our journey, and we will always remember her contributions.”

The past month has been a whirlwind of media coverage for Earps. Her return to her former employer may serve as a natural transition as public interest shifts elsewhere. She has noted how overwhelming the response to her autobiography has been.

As she prepares for upcoming challenges with Les Parisiens, including a crucial match against Bayern Munich on November 20, it is vital for Earps to maintain focus and performance to ensure their Champions League campaign remains alive.