What changed at Man Utd as WSL form improved ahead of derby with Man City
At Manchester United the women's team have won their past three Women's Super League matches as they prepare to face leaders Manchester City in the WSL derby on Sunday, 25 October at 18:00 GMT.
United endured a difficult start to the season, failing to win any of their opening three matches and suffering a loss of confidence, but secured their first victory against Sheffield United in the Women's League Cup and have since put together six successive wins in all competitions. The sequence has lifted them to fifth in the WSL table, eight points behind unbeaten Manchester City, and has provided momentum ahead of the derby.
The most visible changes have occurred under new manager Eva Olid, who joined in the summer and acknowledged the squad initially struggled to adapt to her approach, which emphasises possession, an attacking mindset and high-risk football. United produced low output in defeats by London City Lionesses and Chelsea, registering just two shots on target and under 40% possession in both fixtures. Ahead of the Arsenal draw Olid said: "The things they were good at before, they need to keep and at the same time, little by little, we need to implement our new style," adding, "It's trying to find this balance. Maybe they thought I would expect them to do everything in the first match but that is impossible. You need time."
A 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium provided the platform for improvement, after which United faced a run of lower-ranked opponents and two successive WSL home matches that produced markedly better numbers. In their next three WSL games they collected the maximum nine points, scored six goals and conceded two while almost doubling their possession percentage compared with the opening trio of matches. Statistically the side increased their final-third influence from 197 passes ending in the final third across the first three games to 529 in the matches against West Ham, Liverpool and Charlton, and lifted their shots tally from 10 to 42, while also winning more aerial duels.
Off the pitch Olid described a "transitional period" that included frank discussions after the 5-0 defeat by Chelsea as players and staff tried to rebuild confidence and understanding. She said: "The first two games were good learning for us to connect as a team and for me to know what the players needed from me," adding, "The players also know what I needed. It was about trying to find that balance. I feel now we are connected. That doesn't mean we won't have more [of those] less good days, but I think we have that understanding of each other." Olid has also completed her backroom team with fellow Spaniard Jose Herrera joining as assistant coach and Gavin Beith arriving after previously working with her at Hearts.
Individual returns and recruitment have played a part in the upturn: vice-captain Ella Toone, who missed out on England selection for the first time under Sarina Wiegman, responded by scoring in United's 3-1 win at Charlton on Sunday, and summer signing Andrea Medina has developed into a key squad member. The international break allowed Olid to reassess and work on the training ground, while captain Maya le Tissier returned from international duty "with renewed energy having impressed for her country during the break," according to the club's post-break assessments.
United will meet Manchester City on Sunday at 18:00 GMT; BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra will provide commentary and the BBC Sport website will carry live text updates. Olid said of the fixture: "I always think that before big games, you want to give confidence to the players and at the same time, you try to motivate them with the opposition," adding, "It's a derby. I think the players are always motivated, but against City, there has to be something else, no?"
