Skinner: We won’t stand still now

United have registered two wins from as many fixtures since the start of the new Women’s Super League season, and now Skinner insists everybody is keen to use the international break to continue preparations for the months ahead.

Rather than spending time reflecting on a successful beginning to the term, the 38-year-old and his staff are eager to keep working alongside the players that are not away with their nations.

The boss says it is valuable time that the Reds will use wisely.

“I must stress it’s not a time for us to sit and stand still,” he told club media's Steve Bennett, following the more recent of the two victories, at Leicester City

“It’s now a time for us to work with our game changers to make sure that they’re in positions to be ready to start, [while] working on all the little details we can get out of them and that they can give to our team.

“We’re focused on how we can develop every single player at this club.”

The Reds were 3-1 winners at the Foxes’ King Power Stadium last weekend, nine days after a season-opening victory over Reading on home soil. 

The two wins have come following a productive and unbeaten pre-season under the new head coach, after he joined in July, and the former Birmingham City and Orlando Pride boss has been happy with the progress his side have shown in the opening weeks of the reign. 

“Manchester United is a club that wants to attack so we have to have that in our DNA. How we do that can vary, so we’re trying to find our own style of that with the players we have,” he said.

“Hopefully, the fans are enjoying what we’re doing and what we’re starting to build.
 
“It's only two games but if we can continue to build that momentum and how we play, we’re going to be a really exciting team to watch.”

One player of Skinner’s that has particularly stood out over the course of the first two games is England international Ella Toone. 

The forward netted her first goal of the campaign in Sunday’s win on the road, having provided the assists for both goals in our 2-0 victory against Reading, on the opening weekend.

Toone is satisfied with the start the Reds have made to 2021/22, going into the international break.

“We set ourselves targets and in every game we want to go and get the three points,” she explained, in her interview after the Leicester game.

“We’ve managed to get six points in our first two games under Marc which is massive for us.

"Now, it’s the international break, and we can go away and be confident in our camps. 

“We’re very happy with the performances, with the goals we’ve scored, the chances created and more importantly the six points.”

As one of 11 players who have headed off on international duty since that triumph in the East Midlands, our no.7 is looking forward to representing England over the coming week or so, before returning to United with defending champions Chelsea next up in the WSL.

“It’s massive for us that we’ve got so many players going away to represent their countries," she said.

“With two games [played], we’re all feeling really confident and now it’s about proving why we’ve been selected. 

“[We want to] keep improving, keep working hard and make sure we’re ready for when we come back as well.”