What Happened: United's reality check and a closer look at Chelsea
Flo Lloyd-Hughes takes a look at what went down in the WSL over the weekend and highlights the latest pieces to read on The Cutback
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It was a quieter weekend in the WSL as there was only one league game, the rearranged fixture between Chelsea and Manchester United.
This weekend had been kept free for the League Cup, so the teams not involved in the Uefa Women’s Champions League (everyone apart from Arsenal and Manchester City), were playing League Cup group games.
League Cup games aren’t broadcast so unless a club decides to stream a match or there are some goal clips we have to guess what happened in these games…..
One thing that definitely did happen was Tottenham’s Eveliina Summanen’s ridiculous 40-yard goal in Spurs’ 1-0 win over Aston Villa.
The quirky and a little bit unloved League Cup has a group stage format which means nothing gets that interesting until the quarter finals (harsh but true).
Back to reality for United
So the main event was Chelsea-Manchester United on Sunday but it wasn’t much of a blockbuster. Thank god I went to see Wicked and Gladiator over the weekend to witness some actual drama. I’ll leave that review for another time.
The insane wind at Kingsmeadow definitely didn’t help this one. Storm Bert made it a pretty scrappy game at times. Chelsea couldn’t deliver with their finishing, United were barely in the game and a penalty was the only thing that separated them in the end.
Thanks to Guro Reiten’s spot kick, Chelsea maintain their 100% start to the season and go five points clear heading into the international break.
Given how confident Chelsea have been this season, the finishing we know they’re capable of and the quality of chances they create in every game, I don’t think you can dwell on what was not the most captivating performance from the champions.
Instead, for me the focus should be on Manchester United.
Marc Skinner was his usual confident self in his post-match interview on Sky Sports. He was very happy with his team’s performance, impressed with how hard they worked despite not having a single shot in the first half, a WSL record for Manchester United.
Sometimes I feel like I’m watching a completely different game to Skinner. I understand a manager’s desire to focus on the positives after a bad result, but Skinner paints a picture of a perfect Manchester United. A United that just misses out on results because of luck or individual errors. In reality, his team are seriously plateauing.
That 0-0 draw with Aston Villa last week felt like the epitome of that feeling. Skinner suggested after the game that a few tweaks from his players had transformed the second half, when it was equally as flat.
Against Chelsea on Sunday, United spent most of the first half in their own box, scrambling to stop Chelsea. United’s right side looked particularly exposed as Sandy Baltimore seemed to be able to bomb forward to the byline with ease.
Going forward, it was also drab with United creating an xG of 0.2. Before that Melvin Malard chance that hit the bar the xG was 0.02.
Conner Roberts has written a piece about Sunday’s game and another meek United performance. Have a read.
Lots of United chat in today’s Counter Pressed too.
Take a closer look at Chelsea
The latest instalment in our team profiles series with The Underrated Scout is now up. This time its the champions Chelsea who get the extra focus.
The Underrated Scout team have had a look at Sonia Bompastor’s side in and out of possession, strengths, weaknesses and overall style of play.
It’s great profile with tons of detail so make sure you have a read.
We’re heading into the international break but keep an eye on The Cutback for a piece from Jessy Parker Humphreys on Chelsea's last few games.
Jessy will also be writing something from Saturday’s big game at Wembley between England and USA.
If you’re going to be at the game maybe we’ll catch you in BoxPark Wembley.
That’s it from me today. See you same time next week.
I know this isn't the case, as it's not like United are putting a lot of their money in their women's team. but anyone else get the feeling that United have employed a spin doctor for their media duties, with Skinner being told to "stay on message". He's like a politician of a beleaguered government trying to "reassure" the public.