Man Utd boss Skinner hails "amazing statistic" helping them in WSL title race
Marc Skinner believes Man Utd's ability to share the goals around can help them sustain their WSL title challenge ahead of a colossal clash with Chelsea.
United will travel to the league champions a point clear at the top of the table on Sunday, although Emma Hayes' Chelsea have a game in hand. But the Red Devils know that to avoid defeat they will probably need to score, the Blues having not drawn a blank in the WSL for over a year now - the last time being a 0-0 draw with Arsenal on February 13 2022.
But United have shown throughout the season they have goals in them, hitting five in a win over Leicester last week to stay top. And manager Skinner says their ability to spread the goals across the team has been a big factor in their charge up the league. Alessia Russo fired a hat-trick in the Leicester success, but Leah Galton and Nikita Parris could also both realistically still finish the season in double figures for goals.
Both teams are joint top scorers in the WSL, each on 38 ahead of the weekend.
"It's part of our design, the different types of goals we can score," explained Skinner. "I think we looked at it yesterday and one occasion we had six different scorers, on two occasions we've had five different scorers (this season) on seven occasions we've had three different scorers.
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"So we have spread the goals about. It is an amazing statistic really because what it does is it allows you to have the ability to score from many different ways.
"Last year you could probably box us as a bit two-dimensional and we only had certain ways of scoring. We've found different ways now and that has to continue.
"We definitely need to be ruthless against Chelsea, because you don't get many chances, so we have to take them when we create them."
Alessia Russo scored a hat-trick last week against LeicesterBoth sides will meet at Kingsmeadow having only lost once in the league so far this season, United's sole defeat coming in the reverse fixture. Ahead of their meeting Skinner also gave an update on two of his out-of-contract stars. Both Russo and England No.1 goalkeeper Mary Earps' current deals expire this summer.
"We have two top players," he added. Who want to be competing (at the highest level) But the whole reason I’m here is to try and achieve that anyway. There is nobody in this club that isn’t trying to aim for that.
"If you ask both players, I think they’re very happy at Manchester United and with the way we’re performing and what we’re doing. There are other factors within that. That is always going to be our aim and those two players, especially, will have a big say in whether we achieve those targets."
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