Marc Skinner reflects on emotional afternoon
Manchester United Women’s head coach Marc Skinner says beating Everton at Old Trafford in front of our supporters is a ‘wonderful feeling’.
The Reds came from a goal down to defeat the Toffees 3-1 at the Theatre of Dreams, to consolidate third position in the Women’s Super League.
After the slow start, Skinner was pleased with how his side responded, on an emotional afternoon for all involved.
“Honestly, amazing,” Skinner began his interview with MUTV after the final whistle.
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“I didn’t feel the first half we got to grips with it quickly enough and of course we’re going to do that because it’s such a big thing for the team and for them [Everton] to spoil the party.
“I just felt it was like a season’s game that – we were behind, we get back into it and we take the lead, dictate the game and in front of our fans it couldn’t have meant more than that today.
“I’m expelling a little bit of emotion right now because that was a wonderful feeling.”
Alessia Russo’s headed double, either side of Katie Zelem’s well-converted penalty, helped turn the tide in United’s favour.
The visitors showed a good account of themselves but there was a feeling that there would be only one winner, especially when the home side stepped it up after the break and went ahead through Zelem’s spot-kick on 54 minutes.
“It’s there, we just didn’t do it from the start. That’s a big experience for us to learn from. Look at this environment. That’s what we’re here to learn from,” Skinner added.
“When you’re aiming for Champions League that puts you in good stead for those experience notches and we’ve got that today.
“Everton were great but we just knew we had enough power to go past them when we stepped up our game.”
The PERFECT day for those in Red! 🔴
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) March 27, 2022
Russo scores her second header of the day, and just look what it means 🙌 pic.twitter.com/q09n8YJJKH
It was an extra-special day for Russo, who has supported United since childhood and capped off a Player-of-the-Match performance with her second of the game late on.
Skinner allowed himself to get a touch sentimental as he looked back on the experience of playing at the Theatre of Dreams, before calling on fans to come back again – at our usual Leigh Sports Village home – as we aim to secure that coveted top-three spot.
“How good is it for a Manchester United fan to score at the Stretford End? For me it didn’t have a romantic feel before the game, because it’s business.
“But now you feel every moment, feel every goosebump on your neck and the people here today and just absorb it.
“Hopefully today we’ve gone a way to changing women’s football and now I just want to see those fans returning.
“Come and see us at Leigh and hopefully we can be back here in the future.”