Skinner: I didn't expect that performance
Marc Skinner admitted he did not "expect that performance" from his side after Manchester United Women's 2-1 win over Aston Villa in the opening WSL game of the season.
The United boss explained he had only had five days to work with all his players due to the international breaks and deadline-day signings.
After a close first half, it was the hosts who opened the scoring through Rachel Daly but it took just three minutes for Lucia Garcia to equalise.
With eight minutes of added time, the Reds continued to push and it was Nikita Parris who picked out Rachel Williams to head home the winning goal.
WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE
“We’re not quite ready where the players know exactly what the other one is doing. We have had the five days together with a complete team. They have seen patterns, ideas but I think the best players read off each other. That is an absolutely wonderful performance considering we haven’t had time together. When you get a team like Aston Villa, they are a team who can take points off anybody.
“We have different players to bring in different aspects of the game. I didn’t expect that performance. I expected the quality of the people but I didn’t expect the quality of the dominant performance. We have to score more but that will come.”
GEYSE'S WSL DEBUT
“We’re adding the individuals who can do something radical. She has a wonderful ability to win a game on her own if she needs to. That’s what we didn’t have [before]. We have been the best team for a long time, we have the togetherness and that’s got us through some tough games, but now we are adding the individuals who can do something magical and you will see that in Geyse throughout the season.”
WILLIAMS' LATE WINNER
“Yes, Rachel scored today, but she’s not just that, it’s the threat she brings in the box. As soon as that ball is in the air, you don’t even need to look, you know Rachel Williams is coming. She is so clean and so fair. It’s unique and it puts you on edge. It’s such a delicate header. It’s her 13th season [in the Women’s Super League] and to play with the effervescence she does, it’s a credit to footballers. She’s a credit to our sport. She is brilliant in her role.”