Skinner: Why Rolfo can be an effective no.9

Rolfo has been known throughout her career as a left-sided player, adept on the wing or at left-back for some of Europe’s leading clubs and at international level.

But the former Wolfsburg and Barcelona star was asked to play more centrally after replacing Sweden colleague Julia Zigiotti just before United conceded a third goal at the Progress With Unity Stadium.

After one sighter that flew over the bar, Frido showcased a clinical poacher’s instinct in the penalty area. With Ella Toone pulling the first goal back for United, Rolfo calmly found the bottom corner to make it 2-3 in the 82nd minute after Melvine Malard had scrambled to keep the chance alive, before converting Leah Galton’s driven cross on the volley deep into stoppage time.

“We’re still learning about Frido too,” Skinner replied when the topic of her game-changing impact was discussed in the post-match press conference.

“I think she could be a really effective no.9 as well, because she’s really good in the box. She's scoring goals for us in the Champions League as well.”

The two goals were her first in the WSL, but her fourth and fifth across all competitions, having also netted in Europe against Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Wolfsburg.

“She’s come from, obviously Barça, different style league, and for Sweden she plays on the wing, so I think we can adapt and evolve her game in which, you know, we are finding that out together,” Skinner continued.

The boss also observed that Spurs changing formation towards the end, dropping into a back five in an effort to squeeze the space and hold onto the lead, gave Rolfo her in. “It allowed us higher territory and basically pushes Frido in to create that second nine – and that’s where she’s deadly.”

‘I KNEW WE COULD COME BACK’

Rolfo was one of only two in-game substitutions made by the boss, with Galton the other player to come on. In the end, they combined to get United the equaliser.

Skinner went on to explain that he resisted making defensive-minded changes when United fell three goals behind because of his faith in what he’d seen when the Reds were dominating – the bar was struck three times in the first half alone, with two others cleared off the line before half-time. Another against the bar and two more off the line followed the interval.

“I’ve been involved in many games and that’s probably one of the strangest I’ve been involved in,” the boss explained. “I knew we could come back, hence the reason I didn’t make a defensive change at 3-0. We made attacking changes because I knew that we could get back into the game.”