Skinner: There'll be more hunger after tonight

Wednesday 22 January 2025 22:47

Marc Skinner spoke of the importance of Manchester United continuing to develop as a team, taking valuable lessons from Wednesday night's Subway Women's League Cup exit.

United were narrowly beaten by Manchester City at Leigh Sports Village, falling to a 2-1 defeat in a tight quarter-final tie that had been a fairly even contest.

While the result was frustrating, exiting the competition, Skinner was happy with the contributions of players who came into a rotated side and the overall signs of progress from a largely young group.

"There is [a lot of hunger] and there will be more after tonight," he told MUTV at full-time.

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"It's a Manchester City team that we've gone toe-to-toe with and another day we get, at least, a penalty which gives us a chance to take it to extra-time. We'll learn, we'll get better, but I'm really happy with the progression.

"There was nothing in the game, really. Both teams were trying and we made Manchester City adapt their style…they were very direct at times," the boss added.

"There's so much progression with this team, so much progression."

Twenty-one-year-old Anna Sandberg impressed at left-back, coming into the XI, while Hinata Miyazawa put in another strong display after retaining her place from Sunday's epic win at the Etihad Stadium.

"I look at Anna tonight, she’s going to be a fantastic player for Manchester United," Skinner said. "It's her first 90, where she's played against two or three different forwards. She's had to show her qualities, but she was up and down that left wing."

He continued: "I thought Hini was again magnificent for us, really, really good, and these are great signs for us because it shows once we get these jigsaw pieces together, we can create a masterpiece. I do believe that and it's something we're going to keep working on.

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"As much as the defeat hurts, we've got to use it on Sunday when we play Brighton [in the WSL], because it's most important that we keep progressing.

"We've got to bring that energy [from the Etihad], every game from now to the end of the season, that energy we know we've got, just show everybody who we are, not fear anyone and play with the Manchester United spirit."

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