Manchester United Women boss Marc Skinner feels the environment is right to build a real legacy at the club.
The head coach is convinced the environment is right to build on the success already achieved, on the back of last season's Adobe FA Cup triumph, with the Reds currently in third spot in the WSL table and pushing hard for a Champions League spot.
Of course, there is also a big FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City on Sunday 13 April to anticipate, and the announcement of Skinner's new contract means the foundations are very much set for the future.
“I'm a big fan of sporting documentaries,”
Skinner told club media in a fascinating interview to mark his new deal. “And I think, you know, you look at 'The Last Dance' when it's the end of the the Chicago Bulls' kind of dynasty.
”And that's what they've said. They called it a dynasty. I'm sure, during that period, they had many cycles where they were trying to tweak and get it right.
“I feel that, right now, I think we're at the start. You know, that's why this contract is really important, this extension.
“Because, for me, we're just at the start of what I think we can achieve,”
he added. “And, you know, even later today, we're sitting down as a group to see how we can push the standards of our recruitment and look at bringing the right people in that will add to this young, vibrant, energetic group.
”I always feel I have a passion to design a team around the fanbase, and we have such a broad fanbase that, you know, it's hard to hit every marker, but I feel if they have the industry of Manchester United, if they have the flair, if they have the aggression, I feel those are the great key sources for us to to create a legacy.“
Skinner accepts the side are probably ahead of schedule in terms of how well we are doing this term.
“I think it's fair to have that conversation,”
he said. “We've pulled ourselves to a place with the right spirit, the right culture, where we can accelerate quicker. But we've got work to do, and we're not there yet, and that's why I want I want to bring the fans on the journey with us.
”When I think about football, it's psychology and it's how you feel, right? And you can always perform better if you feel good. I think our environment does that for people. It really does. It genuinely does. And if we can get that young group to grow and add the right people to it, then, hopefully, we can talk about not overachieving and actually we're just achieving what we should be achieving.“