Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner says that his side must take the game to Manchester City when the pair meet at The Leigh Sports Village in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup fifth round this weekend.
The two sides previously faced each other just a fortnight ago in the league. Manchester City came out 1-0 winners from that fixture at The Academy Stadium.
Manchester United had just 31% of the ball in that game and created 14 chances less than their city rivals. When speaking to FAWSL Full-Time ahead of this weekend’s meeting, Skinner said that the message is to take the game to Manchester City this time round.
“We defended better against City in this last game and we were better in-field, we look more solid in these big games with those defensive mentalities but we need to be better with the ball,” Skinner said.
“We have ability in abundance but what we have to do is have the mentality to attack Manchester City and make them defend. It is about movement, getting into spaces where you don’t worry about what Manchester City can do even though we know that they have got lots of talent. It is about taking the game to them.
“Manchester City always have a lot of possession and a lot of that is across their back-line when they are looking for those progressive passes that they can play. We have to make sure that when we get those opportunities, we express who we are and that’s what I want to see in this game.
“If we are better in the attacking phases, we will be alright in any game and that is what we are going to focus on in this game.”
Manchester United’s derby defeat to Manchester City last time out still feels very raw for Skinner and he went on to highlight individual battles as another area for improvement.
He said “We have reminded the players that there were too many duels lost in that game. That’s nothing to do with tactical or technical factors, that’s to do with your passion to make sure that the opponent does not get the upper hand.
“Manchester City were always going to be aggressive in their own back yard with 5,000 fans cheering them on but for us, it was unacceptable. I will always support my players but it is in those duels that they can show their qualities, in those individual moments when the game breaks down to that one v one. We have to be better and they know that.”
The Vitality Women’s FA Cup fifth round tie between Manchester United and Manchester City kicks-off at 12.30pm on Sunday.
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