Marc Skinner had special praise to lavish on Lisa Naalsund, an “incredible footballer”
, after her brace helped secure Sunday’s 3-1 win over Liverpool in the WSL.
Operating from the no.10 position, Naalsund carried the charge for the Reds and scored her first two goals of the season, coming either side of a Liverpool equaliser.
After the Norway international, who was at times playing extremely close to compatriot Elisabeth Terland to fully indicate her attacking brief, converted a composed second midway through the second half, United had an upper hand they never relinquished.
“Lisa has an incredible running ability with and without the ball. All I’ve asked Lisa is to show those qualities with the ball she's shown today, because she's an incredible footballer,”
the boss said.
“Honestly, there are romantic moments in football where somebody gets what they deserve. I think she deserved that today,”
he added, having also singled out Naalsund’s impact when she came on in last weekend’s 4-1 win away at Aston Villa.
“The two finishes were incredible, but I actually think her all-round play today is really calm with the ball. Off the ball, she never gives anything but the best. On the ball she can give lots more and you’ve seen it today. She puts us in a great space.
“She wins the game for us today, and that’s huge from her.”
‘THAT’S WHAT A GOOD SQUAD IS ABOUT’
It was Simi Awujo who started in the no. 10 role at Villa Park a week prior and was similarly trying to get forward in support of the striker ahead of her - Lea Schuller on that occasion. Both Awujo and Naalsund have stepped up in that regard while Ella Toone has been absent, highlighting the depth available.
“In the moment where Ella isn’t here, we need to find solution. We looked at Jess [Park], we’re looking at the Simi, and obviously Lisa. So we have just different qualities in those moments,”
Skinner said, offering an insight into the process.
“In the next block of games, we're going to see all of them at some point, so they need to be ready. Lisa took her opportunity today, and she win us the game from being ready. I asked the other players to be the same. I just want variants and different tools to unlock different problems because you can’t have [only] one style in this league. It's too difficult.”
United’s third goal perfectly illustrated the quality that exists in the wider squad, scored by Fridolina Rolfo and created by Ellen Wangerheim and Hanna Lundkvist. The latter pair have only been at the club for a matter of weeks, while Rolfo is still relatively new herself.
All three started on the bench for this one, helping take the game away from Liverpool late on.
“I mean, when Frido’s in the box, just a special mention for her, she just finds a way to finish. To do what she's doing in this moment, I’m really, really pleased,”
Skinner said, reflecting on the Swede’s seventh goal of the season.
“You see the underlap from Hanna, and so on, I’m so happy with them. We’ve got to keep them all ready, pick them for the right moments, but it’s all we’ve been crying out for is just that depth to be able to change games, because that’s what a good squad is about.”