For Manchester United, the last five minutes of added time felt like an age. For Manchester City, time was ticking too quickly.
At 2-2 and down to 10 players, United just needed to hang on to claim one point to secure Champions League qualification. City sought one more goal at Old Trafford to snatch the European prize from their rivals.
It was not pretty, but United got the job done, qualifying for the Champions League for the second time in their seven-year existence.
City fell short. Interim head coach Nick Cushing, coy about his future, had failed to achieve his top-three task.
United’s desperation to get just one point showed. In the first half there was an intention to be forward-thinking, but they hardly played in the “full throttle” manner with which head coach Marc Skinner wanted them to attack this game. They lacked quality and discipline in what was a stop-start game and found themselves 2-0 down within 42 minutes.
Skinner said his team were “passive” as City scored a beautifully worked goal, finished off by Laia Aleixandri while Gabby George failed to track Rebecca Knaak, who headed home City’s second from a corner. But on a big occasion, in a derby, in front of 31,465 fans in the unfamiliar setting of Old Trafford — don’t forget they lost to Chelsea 6-0 on the final day of the season here last year — United showed resilience to come back from 2-0 down with one less player for the majority of the second half.
Grace Clinton’s header had halved the deficit just before half-time. In the dressing room, Skinner got his players into a tight huddle and reminded them to be patient, that their moment would come. And it did.
Melvine Malard came off the substitutes’ bench in the 63rd minute, and within five minutes took her chance with a one-touch finish to guide the ball past Khiara Keating and level the score. Despite Aoife Mannion being sent off for a second yellow card a minute after the leveller, United gritted their teeth and saw out the game.
Leah Galton, Grace Clinton, Anna Sandberg and Melvine Malard celebrate United’s victory (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
“When I look at Manchester United, they’re a good team with a top coach, but their biggest asset is their real want to win,” said Cushing after the game.
United beat City away from home for the first time in January and did so again in the FA Cup semi-final in April, although they did lose 2-1 in the League Cup. On Wednesday, despite losing 1-0 to Chelsea, Skinner said it was the first time they accepted they could have won the game against the league champions. United had a higher expected goals (xG) value (1.8) than Chelsea’s (1.3), but did not take their chances.
“This team has the most immense spirit and now we need to add the depth too in order for us to be challenging at the top,” said Skinner post-match.
But we’ve been here before.
Two years ago, the United boss had said the same. In came a number of players, and then United were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain in the second round of Champions League qualifying.
During that summer window ahead of the 2023-24 season, they signed Malard on loan from Lyon, a deal made permanent last year; Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who has been imperious this season as Mary Earps’ replacement; Geyse, since loaned out to Gotham; Gemma Evans, who left after one season for Liverpool; Irene Guerrero, who joined Club America after just a year; Emma Watson, currently on loan at Everton; Evie Rabjohn, who is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and Gabby George and Hinata Miyazawa.
Tullis-Joyce and Miyazawa have proven to be huge successes, while the departures speak for themselves.
Tullis-Joyce has been a standout player for United this season (Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Having the Champions League badge opens doors for recruitment. Playing in Europe is a huge pull for enticing players, given that the best footballers want to play in the biggest competition in women’s football.
Skinner feels they have added physicality in midfield with the additions of Dominique Janssen, Miyazawa, Simi Awujo and Lisa Naalsund. Now he wants more physicality in attack and experienced Champions League players — like Janssen, who slotted in at right-back to cover for Mannion — to couple with his young and hungry squad. Skinner must also make the players he already has better too, which he acknowledges is his job.
The club, according to the United head coach, are aware of the backing they will need to qualify for the Champions League proper.
According to the latest set of accounts from the 2023-2024 season, out of those currently within the Women’s Super League (WSL) top four, United’s total expenditure was the lowest at £9million ($11.94m at current conversion rates). Chelsea spent £20.2m ($26.8m) — more than double United — Arsenal came second on £15.4m ($20.43m) while City were only just ahead of United on £10.1m ($13.40m).
United’s expenditure has increased from the £6.8m ($9.02m) spent in the 2022-23 season, but to compete, they will have to up their investment to stand any chance of mixing it with their rivals.
The club have set an ambitious target of winning the WSL by 2028, but to do that, they need to beat Arsenal, Chelsea and City — Champions League finalists, semi-finalists and quarter-finalists respectively. That means they need potential Champions League-winning players.
The succession plan should have already started. If they do not start now, there is no way they will win the WSL by 2028.
Of course, Arsenal, Chelsea and City are vying for players, too, and have greater financial means, so United’s recruitment will have to be extremely savvy. The club are designing their own in-house data analysis for men’s and women’s recruitment. Technical director Jason Wilcox is putting a data team in place, and for two months, the head of women’s recruitment, Harvey Bussell, has been working on it to check for any bugs in the system.
“It allows us to look at statistically the right players, but also the fit for us,” said Skinner, who described the process as “still in its infancy” but “much more robust”.
Off the pitch, the Champions League affects the commercial value of the club and can unlock areas of revenue, from increased brand visibility to a global audience, to building player profiles and the fanbase. The further they progress, the greater the revenue opportunities.
The question is, will United take advantage?
(Top photo: Manchester United celebrate their draw; by Gareth Copley via Getty Images)