Marc Skinner determined to go further with Manchester United next time out

By Phil Campbell, Sportsbeat

Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner is pleased with the progress is side have made this season but has set his sights on capturing the WSL title next time out.

His side were pipped 4-3 by Arsenal in an enthralling contest at Emirates Stadium which meant the home side secured second place in the table, with United left in third.

Three goals in 12-second-half minutes ultimately got Renée Slegers’ side over the line despite a late United fightback, and despite bettering last season’s league position by two places and reaching another Adobe Women’s FA Cup final , Skinner believes that there remains work to be done in Manchester.

“If you would have said to me at the start of the year, ‘you are going to play really well, you are going to have lots of growth in the season, you are going to finish third and get to another FA Cup final’, I would have taken that if I am being really honest,” said Skinner.

“But that does not mean I am defeated and that I am not trying to win the league. I want to be clear on that.

“My ambition is to drive this team and try and win a title. I know everybody might say, ‘Chelsea have not lost a game’, I totally understand that, I am not crazy!

“But if I do not have that goal, then I would not be able to get up every day and drive my players to achieve.

“We have got this one big event left and I am going to make sure that we are fully engaged and ready for that.”

England international Chloe Kelly broke the deadlock after just two minutes in North London following United keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s error when trying to collect a cross.

Kelly’s Lionesses teammate Ella Toone brought the visitors back on terms with a smartly directed header before Arsenal upped the ante in the second half.

Mariona Caldentey’s penalty and strikes from Frida Maanum and Gunners skipper Kim Little looked to have put the result beyond doubt.

But Skinner’s side showed character in abundance and Elisabeth Terland’s deflected effort and Maya Le Tissier’s penalty set up a grandstand finish.

Their efforts on the day may have been in vain in front of the 46,603-strong attendance, but Skinner thinks the match was excellent preparation for their Wembley showpiece with champions Chelsea on May 18.

“Today will help us for next week for the simple fact that today was like a dress rehearsal of not being able to hear the coaches and look at scenario planning,” he continued.

“We have given Arsenal a bit of the game today. We have made mistakes, but these are things you would rather get out of the way before a final and we can focus forward.

“But there is so much great learning. Once Arsenal got that momentum and scored the goal, then as a team, you have to breathe, and you have to manage the time. It is something I have to keep reminding our players, because next week will be a different event.

“The season is done and now we have a one-off game, which we are used to, and it is my job to keep reminding our players to manage that momentum.”