Skinner: Man Utd to Use Last Season’s Chelsea Defeat as ‘Fuel’

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner indicated that his team plans to draw motivation from their substantial 6-0 defeat against Chelsea on the final day of last season, ahead of their encounter this Sunday (kick-off 12:00 GMT). While United remains undefeated in the WSL this season, they are set to face a Chelsea squad that boasts a flawless record across all competitions under the guidance of their new head coach, Sonia Bompastor. Referring to the significant defeat in May at Old Trafford, which resulted in Chelsea securing the WSL title, Skinner remarked: “When we walked off that field, nobody felt good.” He continued, “You can have a choice: you can fear from it or you can do something about it. We have to learn and grow from that game. It’s fuel and motivation. It was a big wake-up call for us. If you let the opponent have one second over you in the game then you deserve what you get.” Additional key statements from Skinner’s news conference include: Skinner stated that on Sunday, United will not ‘put Chelsea on a pedestal’ and will instead focus on executing their own style of play. Striker Elisabeth Terland is a “potential” absentee for the match at Kingsmeadow, having experienced groin tightness during the game against Leicester last weekend. She was absent from the midweek victory against Everton and was not included in the Norway squad. Ella Toone’s calf injury could sideline her until 2025; however, United plans to assess her condition following the international break. Aoife Mannion might be available for Sunday’s fixture. Skinner expressed that he does not believe a victory on Sunday is essential for United to maintain their title aspirations, stating: “To say it’s a must-win against a team that hasn’t lost a game and have played the way they have, it’s a bit over-reaching.”