Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner says that further investment is needed in the team to close the gap on rival clubs in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
The Red Devils face an uphill task to win the title this season after a number of draws in the early weeks of the campaign, combined with a 3-1 derby defeat to neighbours Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.
When speaking in a Manchester United press conference, Skinner said that his side are playing catch up on their rivals in terms of investment with the club still being in its infancy and that more big game players need to be drafted in.
“There’s still a gap in terms of years of investment,” Skinner said. “We are investing but it’s years of investment and building a squad over a period of time. There’s still a tiny gap in terms of that.
“I believe in the group to bridge the gap on the field, even while we are waiting for those years of investment to kick in. It’s hard to bridge the gap in a couple of seasons.
“We still need to invest. We still need to bring in players with experience in the big games. I still think in those big games, if we can perform the way that we can perform, we can win those games.”
Looking ahead to the January transfer window, Skinner said that the club will be looking to do business and that they will be casting their net far and wide.
He said “For sure, we will be exploring the NWSL and other leagues out of season, we’ve never stood still in the time that I’ve been here.
“In terms of my recruitment, we’ve moved every season because we have to bridge this gap from only being around for five seasons. We don’t use that as an excuse. We are building, we are bridging, we are trying to invest and progress.
“We are looking in this window and if the right players are available, we will be trying to do the business to bring them in.”
Manchester United return to action following their derby defeat with a FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup fixture at Liverpool tomorrow night.