Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner says that Aston Villa boss Carla Ward will continue to achieve great things in her managerial career.
The Red Devils travel to The Poundland Bescot Stadium to face Ward’s Villans in their latest Barclays Women’s Super League fixture this evening.
Aston Villa have been one of the most eye-catching sides in the Barclays Women’s Super League this season. Head coach Ward will guide her side to their highest-ever league finish with the Midlands club potentially set to end the campaign as high as fifth.
When speaking in the pre-match press conference, Manchester United boss Skinner said that Ward is doing an excellent job and that she will go on to achieve plenty more in her managerial career.
“Carla has done a great job,” Skinner said. “We’ve had a similar route into management in terms of working at clubs where you have to work a lot with minimal resource and you have to try and maximise that.
“I think Carla has done great. In reality, you get better with more investment; when you can buy better players, they do more for you. She’s doing a great job right now and I’m sure she will continue to do that. I think Aston Villa will keep spending and keep backing her; having a player like Rachel Daly will always help a manager.
“I think Carla is going to do really good things. Hopefully, while I’m Manchester United head coach, I can make sure that’s minimised but I’ve got a lot of time for what she has done, I appreciate the difficult route that she has taken.”
Manchester United have already faced Aston Villa twice this season. The Red Devils lost on penalties at The Poundland Bescot Stadium in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup before beating The Villans 5-0 at Old Trafford in the league. Skinner is expecting a tough contest in Walsall this evening.
He said “We rotated about eight players for that game (in the Conti Cup) but it was tough. Even when we played them and it was a big score at Old Trafford, we reflected on that game and Villa had chances.
“They’ve got quality players like Kenza Dali, Lucy Staniforth and Jordan (Nobbs) with Rachel Daly at the spearhead of that, the investment is there. Looking at their defensive line as well, I’ve always been a fan of what Dan Turner has done. There are lots of good players there, they’ve got a nice blend of experience and youth.
“I think they’re going to be a difficult team to play against. When they are at home, it is always going to be difficult. We are going to have to dig deep and find a way to win but we have shown that we can do that this year. It’ll be a very difficult game and we will have to be at our best to get the points.”
Manchester United’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture at Aston Villa kicks-off at 7.15pm.
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