Manchester United Women v Manchester City Women match programme Continental League Cup, 17.11.21

OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 2021/22 SEASON • VOLUME 04 ISSUE 04

INSIDE: IVANA FERREIRA FUSO INTERVIEW

FA WOMEN’S CONTINENTAL TYRES LEAGUE CUP WEDNESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2021 • KICK-OFF 7PM

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WHAT’S INSIDE

COME ON YOU REDS! It’s been nearly six weeks since our last home outing – a dramatic derby, featuring four goals, a red card and the WSL spoils shared here in Leigh. Tonight sees a change of competition, as the focus turns to the Continental Tyres League Cup, but the opposition remains the same: it’s United v City, under the floodlights, with the possibility of penalties, should the scores finish level once again. To catch up on a busy few weeks since we were last at LSV, including Sunday’s match away to Everton (above), turn to p11, while there’s some exciting news on p9!

MANCHESTER UNITED F O O T B A L L C L U B LT D Co-chairmen Joel Glazer, Avram Glazer Directors Bryan Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz,

04 HEAD COACH’S column 09 NEWS ROUND-UP

Ed Woodward, Richard Arnold, Michael Edelson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill CBE Secretary Rebecca Britain

11 MATCH ACTION ROUND-UP 14 HISTORY OF THE CONTI CUP

Honorary president Martin Edwards MATCH PROGRAMME TEAM Editor Charlie Ghagan

23 captain’s column 24 Ferreira Fuso interview

Editor-in-chief Ian McLeish Contributors Sean Mullan, Harriet Drudge, Harry Robinson, Andy Murray Photography Ash Donelon,

30 the opposition 33 JUNIOR REDS & FAN Messages

John & Matt Peters, Getty Cover design Sarah Robson Thanks to Haylee Howe, John Shiel & Chris Leuty/ MuPrint.com

37 player & team statistics

© Manchester United 2021

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HEAD COACH’S COLUMN

MARC SKINNER The boss’s first three months in charge have flown by, and he’s excited about a busy pre-Christmas schedule, with some familiar opponents here tonight...

Hello and welcome back to Leigh Sports Village.

It’s been a while since we’ve been here with you, and as we return we again face Manchester City, this time in the League Cup group stage.

My first 100 days at the club have gone so quickly.

Everyone here works so hard and we’re learning, adapting and developing all the time – for now, for the present, and for the future too. It’s an exciting time, especially as we enter a particularly busy point in the season.

We’ll take a lot from our last meeting with City into this match. It was quite an even match up until the sending off. That threw us off a little bit and they scored soon after. We thought we should be doing better with that situation, but it almost woke us up too. We started to do what we know we can do, working to our strengths.

These are the things that we continue to challenge each other on every day: can we make sure we’re in an attacking mindset? What does that feel like? How do we approach each game as Manchester United players?

Our previous fixture in this competition came against Durham – a 2-2 draw, followed by a shoot-out. We felt we should have won in normal time and had a chance to win it right at the end, and plenty of really good chances.

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We didn’t take them which was disappointing. But what was so pleasing about that experience was the players’ reaction to the disappointment of not winning the game outright. You have to reset your mindset going into a shoot-out and they were excellent at doing that.

We can talk all we want about the technique of taking a penalty, but we can’t replicate the kind of pressure without fans, without fatigue in mind and in body.

I thought the players dealt with that brilliantly.

In those situations as a manager, I often try to use distraction tactics. We remind each of them of the good things and talk them through the process, but I also like to talk to players about something different: dinner, family, weekend plans, that kind of thing. The aim is to clear their mind and help them to not overthink the situation. And it usually works!

We know we’re in a tough group and given the schedule we’ll need to use our squad wisely and carefully. This competition is a huge opportunity for us, though, and we would love to win it, for us and for you.

I hope you enjoy tonight’s game.

HEAD COACH’S COLUMN

to manage at the stadium. asrenal, bitter diss, dont think performed badly. lowest possession arsenal have had under JM but got to turn poss in chances, and turn those chanes into goalsm, and how we went in at half-time 1-0 down i’;ll never know. it was diss cos our sloippy poss turned over ball early doors, very much message was to stay in game as long as possible, dont conced, they have to win and willl come out and then we can capitalise, but early goal put on bvack foot, gave us alot to do. but have to be pleased with elements but key moments when didnt take chances cost us. unf not in our hands GD, they have still got to win all their games and we need to make sure we win ours.

“WE KNOW WE’RE IN A TOUGH GROUP AND GIVEN THE SCHEDULE WE’LL NEED TO USE OUR SQUAD WISELY. THIS COMPETITION IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US, THOUGH, AND WE’D LOVE TO WIN IT, FOR US AND FOR YOU” 05

BIG PICTURE

WE’RE HOT FROM THE SPOT! The Reds celebrate a penalty shoot-out success in our opening Continental Tyres League Cup tie, away to Durham five weeks ago. While, of course, three points would have been the aim ahead of kick-off, the spot-kick victory – secured thanks to precise efforts from Ella Toone, Aoife Mannion, Haylee Ladd, Vilde Boe Risa and ultimately Alessia Russo (right) following a miss from Durham’s Becky Salicki – saw us take two points at Maiden Castle, with the hosts taking one point after the game finished 2-2.

United Women have now won two shoot-outs from two since the Reds were reformed in 2018 – the first being against tonight’s visitors City last season – and we’ve scored from every kick! That certainly bodes well should things finish level this evening...

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BIG PICTURE

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MANAGER

LATEST NEWS

WE’RE BACK AT OLD TRAFFORD!

LSV DATES CONFIRMED FOR EUROS

United Women return to M16 in March to face Everton As confirmed on Friday, United Women are to play a historic first game in front of the club’s fans at Old Trafford next March.

The Reds will face Everton in a WSL fixture currently scheduled for 12pm on 27 March (subject to broadcast selection changes).

The women’s team first played at Old Trafford in last season’s WSL campaign, in a 2-0 win against West Ham (right).

That fixture was played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 protocols, but the return of fans will give supporters the opportunity to see Marc

Skinner’s team in action for the first time in M16.

Skinner said: “It’s another fantastic milestone for this team. We are so thankful for the continuous support the fans have given us, and I hope that they turn out in big numbers for what will be a really special moment.”

Collette Roche, the club’s chief operating officer, said: “This is going to be a significant moment for the women’s team and the club. We hosted a match at Old

A year to the day after our Old Trafford debut, the Reds are set to return – but this time with a crowd!

Trafford last season but that was behind closed doors, so we are eagerly anticipating this opportunity to have thousands of United fans supporting Marc and his squad. We encourage all fans interested to secure a ticket early for what will be a terrific occasion.”

All season ticket holders for the women’s team have already been contacted with instructions on how to claim their free ticket, with tickets going on general sale at 6pm on November 22 following purchase windows for previous United Women ticket purchasers, Old Trafford season ticket holders and official club members.

Tickets are priced at just £6 for adults and £3 for under-16s/over 65, with hospitality available to purchase now, starting at just £15pp. For full details, visit ManUtd.com/ womenstickets.

LSV is one of 10 host stadiums

The draw has taken place for UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, with four fixtures confirmed for here at Leigh Sports Village, which will follow the tournament opener at Old Trafford between England and Austria on Wednesday 6 July. The LSV schedule starts with three Group C games – Russia v Switzerland on Saturday 9 July; Netherlands v Russia on Wednesday 13 July and Sweden v Russia on Sunday 17 July – then finally a quarter-final tie between the winners of Group C and the runners-up in Group D (France, Italy, Belgium, Iceland) on Friday 22 July. The ticket ballot application window closed yesterday, but all remaining tickets will go on general sale in February. Pick up a copy of Sunday’s programme for an extended feature on Leigh’s pride in being named as a host venue.

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Manchester United v West Ham United

MATCH ROUND-UP

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

Four games, with three on the road Sunday 14 November, Walton Hall Park, WSL EVERTON 1 (Magill 76) UNITED 1 (Toone 10) Marc Skinner’s Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by a stubborn Everton in the WSL three days ago.

United put the hosts under pressure from the word go, and after Hannah Blundell cleared to Alessia Russo, our in-form forward played in Martha Thomas wonderfully, who cut the ball across to Ella Toone on the edge of the Everton area. Completing a lethal counterattack, Toone fired the ball into the net to give us a 10th-minute lead.

It might have been 2-0 around the half-hour mark when Russo won a corner. Thomas flicked on Katie Zelem’s cross with her head, but Aoife Mannion couldn’t quite do enough to turn the ball into the net.

Toone worked an opening when taking on her defender one-on-one, but lifted it over. Meanwhile, Everton were digging deep to try and find an equaliser before the break as Valerie Gauvin first miskicked when in the box, then saw a tame header saved. Claire Emslie then hit the crossbar having had a go from distance.

Into the second half, Thomas had a great chance for the visitors after 55 minutes. Ona Batlle did brilliantly down the right before picking out our no.9, but Thomas couldn’t find the target with the effort.

The leveller then came from nothing for Everton and just a short moment after Earps was down and in some discomfort.

Everton sub Simone Magill tried to get on the end of the ball as Maria Thorisdottir attempted to shield her. Earps came Batlle on to collect and just as our the ball goalkeeper appeared to get

the ball in her grasp, Magill poked the ball out of her control and into the net.

Toni Duggan came close for the hosts late on, Assistant coach Martin Ho and Skinner on before Toone was denied the touchline what would have been a dramatic late winner by a diving Alexandra Maciver in the Everton net, as our no.7 unleashed a dangerous curling shot with her left foot.

Sunday 7 November, The Hive Stadium, WSL TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 (Percival 90+5) UNITED 1 (Russo 45+2) On a day of swirling winds and low autumn sun in north London, the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham after a dramatic late goal from the hosts.

It was Tottenham who fashioned the first chance within five minutes when their no.7 Jessica Naz tried a crafty shot from distance, but Mary Earps, making her 50th appearance for the Reds, was alive to the danger.

Neither side was finding a real rhythm, but of the two teams it was United who were enjoying more possession.

Alessia Russo and Leah Galton both had half-chances, before Russo scored just before the break. Driving past two players, Russo smashed a venomous shot past keeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela at her near post.

United came out flying Russo takes the acclaim for the second half, creating a host of efforts. The pick came from Kirsty Hanson, whose shot was saved before the keeper smothered the rebound just as Galton was set to pounce. Earps was again called into action when Kit Graham struck from 30 yards. United were managing the game well, even as the home side increased their intensity. Reds’ sub Martha Thomas created a couple of chances – before the cruel twist. With all 10 team-mates in the box, including the keeper, Ria Percival pumped a hopeful free-kick from deep that bounced through the crowd and into the net.

Russo was almost the hero as she got her head to a Galton cross in a bid to restore the lead in the dying seconds, but Korpela Hanson starts denied her to ensure the an attack points were shared.

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MATCH ROUND-UP Thursday 14 October, Maiden Castle, League Cup DURHAM 2 (Bradley 50, Hepple 85) UNITED 2 (Fuso 35, Toone 75) United win 5-3 on penalties to claim bonus point United Women were held to a 2-2 draw at Durham in our opening Continental Tyres League Cup group game, but the Reds gained an additional point thanks to a penalty shoot-out victory.

In front of what was a sell-out crowd of 1,468 at Maiden Castle, Marc Skinner’s side dictated large parts of the opening 45 minutes, the midfield pairing of Vilde Boe Risa and Hayley Ladd vital in setting the tempo of the game early on. The hosts’ resilience was eventually broken on 35 minutes when Ivana Ferreira Fuso netted her first goal in United colours. It was Alessia Russo who drove forward initially and after a superb roundJones pushes the-corner pass from Lucy forward Staniforth, Carrie Jones squared the ball to Ferreira Fuso, who fired it home.

In a contrast to the first 45 minutes, the hosts began the second period as the better of the two sides and soon began to make life difficult for United. Durham’s Dee Bradley flicked the ball into the path of Sarah Robson, who was eventually closed down as the ball rolled out for a corner. The resulting set-piece led to the equaliser, as Bradley rose the highest at the back post to nod the hosts level just five minutes after the restart.

On 75 minutes, it was the Reds who again took the lead thanks to a spectacular strike from substitute Ella Toone. Ladd did brilliantly to retain possession before laying the ball into the path of the England forward, who rifled her effort into the top corner.

The hosts would strike back again though, as a Beth Hepple free-kick sailed past Sophie Baggaley, making her debut in the United goal, sparking jubilant scenes among the home fans.

With the game level, as per the competition’s rules, the tie headed into a penalty shoot-out in which the winner would gain an extra point in the group standings.

Toone, Aoife Mannion, Ladd and Boe Risa all scored, as did Durham’s first three takers, before Becky Salicki chipped her effort wide for the hosts, leaving Debutant Russo to fire home the Baggaley winning kick for United.

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Saturday 9 October, Leigh Sports Village, WSL UNITED 2 (Staniforth 72, Russo 75) MANCHESTER CITY 2 (Shaw 33, White 79)

Galton battles with Beckie

The Reds and the Blues played out an enthralling derby in Leigh as Gareth Taylor’s visiting side took home a point despite playing much of the game with 10 players.

United showed signs of quality throughout the first half, particularly through good combination play on the left with Ona Batlle and Leah Galton, but were the lesser of the teams as Mary Earps denied Janine Beckie, then Maria Thorisdottir cleared Lauren Hemp’s shot from off the line. United did threaten at times – Kirsty Hanson with a left-footed curler – but the first half was a cautious one, up until the point when Georgia Stanway lunged at Galton, unintentionally stepping into her quadricep.

A red card was shown to the City player.

The momentum should have swung United’s way, but if it did, it was only temporary. Two minutes later, Bunny Shaw put City ahead, heading home unmarked in the centre of the box from Demi Stokes’s cross.

City nearly made it 2-0 before half-time through Hemp, but United found the extra level required after the break. Ella Toone came close, then it required a moment of creativity to bring United level. Hannah Blundell took a left-sided corner quickly, pushing it out to Toone who turned and crossed quickly to the near post where Lucy Staniforth, almost retrieving the ball from behind her, flicked the ball in for her first United goal.

Three minutes later, Alessia Russo gave us the lead.

Ona Batlle crossed from the left and Russo initially fluffed her touch but recovered well, maintaining her balance, getting the ball out of her feet and pulling a well-placed shot into the bottom-right corner.

United’s celebrations had hardly died down when Ellen White drew the game level. The England striker was in the right place at the right time, a wonderful save from Earps to deny a stunning long-range Jess Park strike simply falling at the feet of White. She duly finished off.

The Reds had more intent to find a winner late on, but City defended well and kept Skinner’s side out as the spoils were shared in a thrilling WSL encounter.

See p38-39 for Reds’ line-ups

Toone drives past Shaw

THE MANCUNIAN WAY.

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BREAKING THE STRANGLEHOLD WOMEN’S LEAGUE CUP

Words: Charlie Ghagan

Only three clubs have ever won the ‘Conti Cup’, a competition that’s forever changing, and is loved by some far more than others.

We explore its relatively short history, as the Reds begin their quest to end the decade-long dominance of Arsenal, City and Chelsea...

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or all the huge progress Manchester United Women have made since the team was reintroduced in May 2018 – Championship winners, successive fourth-place finishes in the WSL, two cup semi-finals – the next targets on that journey are clear to see: securing Champions League football via a top-three finish, and winning a first major trophy.

New head coach Marc Skinner will be looking at tonight’s competition as a good opportunity to achieve the second of those objectives, with the Reds’ two semi-finals to date both coming in the League Cup: a 2-1 loss away to Arsenal in our inaugural campaign, followed by a similarly narrow defeat, 1-0 at home to Chelsea, in 2019/20 – a pair of spirited performances that saw us just fall short of knocking out opponents who, along with this evening’s visitors, have come to dominate the League Cup since its creation a decade ago.

Indeed, until Chelsea went on to lift the trophy after knocking United out in what would be our final home game before Covid-19 locked us all away, only Arsenal (five wins) and Manchester City (three wins) had ever won this cup. Successive triumphs in 2020 and 2021 has since moved Chelsea to just one trophy-lift behind the Blues of Manchester.

So there’s been something of a stranglehold when it comes to the clubs picking up the winner’s medals – even more so than in the Women’s FA Cup, which has at least seen Birmingham City on the winner’s roster during the same time-frame – but little else about tonight’s cup has been consistent since eight teams competed in its first-ever run of fixtures, on 4 September 2011.

A straight knockout tournament involving the WSL’s eight teams, it started out as simply a smaller-scale

WOMEN’S LEAGUE CUP

Arsenal, including Ellen White, who could face United tonight, celebrate in the first final, played 10 years ago against Birmingham

version of the equivalent League Cup in the men’s game. With 4-0, 3-1 and 4-1 victories, Arsenal made easy work of it, beating Birmingham in the final in front of 2,167 fans at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.

Since then, the format has been far from straightforward, with a group stage added the following season to allow for more games – the top two in each group progressing to the semis. In 2014, the competition

was expanded to three groups of six, enabling second-tier (then WSL 2) sides to compete in it for the first time. The group stage remained the same in 2015, only with more teams advancing in order to create an additional knockout round.

Then, in 2016, it was back to a straight knockout in order to accommodate 19 sides, with a preliminary round followed by a seeded Round of 16 that matched ▶

A SPIRITED SEMI-FINAL PERFORMANCE IN 2018/19 – AND AGAIN THE FOLLOWING SEASON – SAW US JUST FALL SHORT 15

WOMEN’S LEAGUE CUP up WSL 2 sides against top-flight opponents (oh, and all the second-tier teams were granted home advantage). A year later, that plan was in the bin – the group stage was back for 2017/18... but with some new rules. Group games that finished level after 90 minutes would now go straight to a penalty shoot-out, with a bonus point awarded to the winners.

The summer of 2018 would herald big changes across the women’s game in England. With the transition to professional status in the WSL, WSL 2 became the FA Women’s Championship, with all teams at that level required to meet at least part-time criteria. That was the time when the Reds entered the fray, of course, with our first-ever home fixture being in tonight’s competition, against Reading in front of 4,835 fans on a glorious day (apart from the result) in Leigh in August 2018.

The group-stage format (albeit now with 22 clubs instead of 20) was maintained that season – as it has been since – but true to form, other changes were afoot: while previously known as the FA WSL Cup, it was now the FA Women’s League Cup, to reflect the new league set-up. The one constant with this tournament has been the sponsor, Continental Tyres, which is why to many it’s always been easier to refer to it as the ‘Conti Cup’.

The unusual circular trophy, wedged to a silver plinth, was also replaced in 2018/19, with two handles now making it far easier for the victorious captain to hoist skywards – prior to that, it was often a two-player game!

Thankfully, the increased professionalism of the women’s game in England has finally enabled things to settle down somewhat when it comes to tinkering with the structure of every major competition,

City get their hands on the 2016 trophy...

...while Chelsea boss Hayes found the new cup far easier to handle last year!

Nearly five thousand Reds welcome the team on to the pitch for the very first time in August 2018

THE INCREASED PROFESSIONALISM OF THE GAME HAS SEEN THE STRUCTURE OF THE COMPETITION SETTLE DOWN – BUT NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY but that’s not to say everyone’s happy with the League Cup’s current format. In 2019, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was outspoken about the number of group games her side were required to play, when she felt those games would be better served helping to grow the WSL. “I have no clue how these fixture dates work out how they do, but I’ll say it again – get rid of the Continental Cup and make more league matches,” she said. “How are we going to get continuity? Play each other in the WSL three times. If you want the Conti Cup, put it in the Championship. We need to sell the WSL, so why are we diluting it as a product?”

With Chelsea (along with Arsenal) now competing in the 16-team Champions League group stage, which began this season, Hayes and new Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall would have been grateful to receive a bye into the knockout stages of the latest League Cup campaign – without this, they would have needed to compete in three league competitions within a single season.

Manchester City would have been hoping to receive a similar bye, but following their elimination in the Champions League qualifying rounds they were added to Group B, alongside Skinner’s Reds, Durham, Everton and Leicester. ▶

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WOMEN’S LEAGUE CUP

On the flip side, for teams outside the WSL such as Durham, against whom we kicked off this season’s Group B campaign, this cup provides extra opportunities to face the elite sides, which as well as testing their players against the best will often draw in larger attendances than they might get in the league.

Certainly for United in 2018/19, the challenges of facing top-flight Liverpool, Reading, Everton, West Ham and Arsenal (yielding three wins and two losses) was of huge benefit to Casey Stoney’s fledgling side. “It was brilliant – we needed it because it meant we could play better teams,” she’d recall in 2019, in response to Hayes’s criticism of the cup’s format.

By then Stoney’s Reds were in the WSL, but even after promotion Stoney still enjoyed the additional challenge it afforded. “We’ve got a really difficult group [in 2019/20], but it gives us the opportunity to play Man City and Everton three times [in a single season]. Unfortunately some of the other groups are slightly weighted the other way, so I can understand where she [Hayes] is coming from.”

FOR UNITED IN 2018/19, THE CHALLENGES OF FACING TOP-FLIGHT TEAMS WAS OF HUGE BENEFIT TO STONEY’S FLEDGLING SIDE 18

Despite our group-stage elimination last term, the derby win against City provided shoot-out drama

REDS IN THE LEAGUE CUP Overall record P16 W9 D2* L5 F32 L14 (*both won on penalties)

Biggest defeat 0-2 v Reading (H) 25 Aug 2018 1-3 v Liverpool (A) 7 Oct 2020

First game 1-0 v Liverpool (A) 19 Aug 2018

Top scorer Ella Toone – 7 goals in 15 apps

Biggest win 11-1 v Leicester (H) 21 Nov 2019

Best season Semi-finals (2018/19, 2019/20)

Yet for all the potential glamour of a tie against one of the big guns, the midweek scheduling of League Cup fixtures can sometimes prove problematic for non-WSL teams, as then Championship side London Bees found out last season. Away to Bristol City, the Bees were unable to name their strongest side due to the challenges faced by some of their part-time players to get to the West Country for a 7.30pm kick-off on a Wednesday night.

“I don’t understand why pro sides and semi-pro sides play each other midweek in the cup,” remarked Bees boss Lee Burch after the game, which his side lost 4-0, not helped by the gaps on his subs’ bench. “If you play it on a weekend, it’s a bit more of an even keel. Midweek, it’s massively in their favour for the last part of the game. We had to leave from our home ground at 2pm so the girls have had to take the day off work. We had two players who couldn’t get off work, and our goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill will get home at 3am and then go to work.”

With several fully professional sides (including former WSL champions Liverpool) among the expanded Championship’s dozen teams this season, such logistical headaches will hopefully become less of an issue, while the group stage’s regional split benefits every player and staff member involved – not to mention the increasing numbers of dedicated away fans hitting the motorway on those bitterly cold midweek evenings.

Of the 10 regionalised games on tonight’s calendar, none are more local than what’s about to take place here in Leigh, where following the two points claimed in Durham on matchday one, three more here will put the Reds in a promising position to reach the last eight – get there, and we’ll be just three victories away from winning it.

For all the challenges that seem to surround the Conti Cup, it’s a major trophy, and one that every Red would love to see Katie Zelem raise to the skies on the opening weekend of March next year. ⬤

M a n u t d.c o m / w o m e n s t i c k e t s

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AOIFE MANNION Born: 24/09/1995 Nationality: English Trivia: Quickly established herself, playing every minute of first seven ’21/22 games.

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ONA BATLLE Born: 10/06/1999 Nationality: Spanish Trivia: Opened her scoring account with a long-range goal v Reading in September.

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MILLIE TURNER Born: 07/07/1996 Nationality: English Trivia: Picked up an injury during our victory at Leicester – get well soon!

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MARY EARPS Born: 07/03/1993 Nationality: English Trivia: Reached half-century of United games during recent 1-1 draw with Spurs.

MARTHA HARRIS Born: 19/08/1994 Nationality: English Trivia: First-ever winner of PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award, in 2014.

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KIRSTY SMITH Born: 06/01/1994 Nationality: Scottish Trivia: Played all three games for Scotland in their first World Cup, in 2019.

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HANNAH BLUNDELL Born: 25/05/1994 Nationality: English Trivia: Provided pair of assists away to Birmingham before setting up a goal in the derby.

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MARIA THORISDOTTIR Born: 05/06/1993 Nationality: Norwegian Trivia: Won her 50th Norway cap in September, shortly after scoring her first United goal.

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SOPHIE BAGGALEY Born: 29/11/1996 Nationality: English Trivia: Her first Reds appearance came in our League Cup opener at Durham.

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MEET THE SQUAD ▶

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JACKIE GROENEN Born: 17/12/1994 Nationality: Dutch Trivia: On road to recovery after hamstring injury on international duty.

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LUCY STANIFORTH Born: 02/10/1992 Nationality: English Trivia: Flicked in from close range v City to register her first WSL goal for United.

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MARTHA THOMAS Born: 31/05/1996 National team: Scotland Trivia: Came off bench to wrap up victory v Leicester with her first Reds goal.

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IVANA FERREIRA FUSO Born: 12/03/2001 Nationality: Brazilian Trivia: Brazil international netted first United goal with opener in draw at Durham.

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ALESSIA RUSSO Born: 08/02/1999 Nationality: English Trivia: Scoring form for Reds saw her earn an England recall in October.

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KATIE ZELEM Born: 20/01/1996 Nationality: English Trivia: Trained at United Girls’ Centre of Excellence and is now club captain.

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KIRSTY HANSON Born: 17/04/1998 National team: Scotland Trivia: Got United’s first competitive goal of ’21/22 with composed finish v Reading.

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LEAH GALTON Born: 24/05/1994 Nationality: English Trivia: Scored her first goal of the season in our 2-0 victory away to Birmingham City.

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ELLA TOONE Born: 02/09/1999 Nationality: English Trivia: Either scored or assisted in each of first six ’21/22 games – and hit a hat-trick for England!

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CARRIE JONES Born: 04/09/2003 Nationality: Welsh Trivia: Full Wales international who provided an assist on her first start of ’21/22, v Durham.

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HAYLEY LADD Born: 06/10/1996 National team: Wales Trivia: Our Player of the Year in 2019/20, featuring in all 21 games across all competitions.

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VILDE BOE RISA Born: 13/07/1995 Nationality: Norwegian Trivia: Scored her first Champions League goal last season, v Manchester City.

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Barclays is celebrating 20 years of commitment to the game we all love, first as title sponsor of the Premier League, and now the Barclays celebrating 20 years of commitment we BarclaysisFA Women’s Super League.

And it’s stilltoallthe to game play for. all love, first as title sponsor of the Premier League, and now the Barclays FA Barclays.com/20years Women’s Super League.toAnd to play for.

Visit seeit’s thestill fullallstory Visit Barclays.com/20years to see the full story

Barclays is celebrating 20 years of commitment to the game we

CAPTAIN’S COLUMN

KATIE ZELEM We’ll be giving our all to win the eighth women’s derby, and there will be no shortage of volunteers to step up should the tie finish level after 90 minutes...

It’s good to be back at home after over a month away, and to continue our League Cup campaign against our local rivals. When we played City here last month, it was a difficult match, as we knew it would be, and actually even harder when they went down to 10 players. There’s often a perception that when you’re playing 11 v 10, the team with 11 should win comfortably. That’s so rarely the case.

City are a brilliant team and they made it hard for us, switching to be more defensive but then taking the lead. Fair play to them, they came out fighting, but we have that fight and character within our team too, and we’re an incredibly competitive group of players. In our last fixture in this competition, against Durham, we won the penalty shoot-out. Penalties are one of those things where no matter how much you practise in training, it’s never like the real event.

Having said that, whenever we’ve got a draw at the end of a small-sided game in training, we take it to penalties. I love that about this team – we’re always hungry to win, even in training. Aoife Mannion, by the way, loves a penalty. I’ve never known a centre-back love penalties so much! She’s always talking to me about

taking them, showing me stats and figures! It’s a great attitude to have and she’s one of many who thrive under pressure.

I’m often asked Aoife’s never fazed about how I deal with by a shoot-out! the pressure of taking a penalty – I’ve taken a few in my time! For me, you have to just think about it as another shot in the game. It’s an opportunity to have an easy shot, no defenders, a still ball. Just pretend like you’re back in training and pick your spot. So we’ll be ready if we have another shoot-out situation this season.

It’s a cliché, but there’s always something magic about cup competitions. It’s something we look forward to every season and we really want to focus on getting far in them this year, with our FA Cup campaign starting in January too.

We hope you enjoy the journey with us, and hopefully we can give our Conti Cup campaign a boost tonight.

23

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

#13 IVANA FERREIRA FUSO

24 07

Manchester United Women v Brighton Hove

IVANA FERREIRA FUSO

It’s been an injury-affected first 16 months at United for the livewire forward, but Ivana – who scored her first goal for the Reds in this season’s Conti Cup opener at Durham – tells us she’s ready to show the fans far more of her silky skills...

Interview: Harry Robinson

Hi Ivana, we’re talking around a month since your first goal for Manchester United. How did that feel?

It felt great. It’s a big honour to score for this big club and I’m really happy to get my first goal. I want to be in the box like that more, but also I want to be scoring from behind the defence and making many assists as well.

Of course, more assists and goals is the target.

And the way your team-mates celebrated with you after you scored at Durham [below] showed how happy they were for you. How good has it been to feel their support over the past few months?

It felt really great, because it was also a team goal, really. The girls know how hard I was working to get on the pitch, to be in good shape and not be injured again.

Did it feel like a release of emotion after a hard year?

Yeah, it did. I was more in shock, to be honest, I didn’t believe that I’d scored! The emotions came because my last year was really hard. In the end, I was really happy.

The celebrating... I love to celebrate, it’s so important.

You’ve had a difficult time with three big injuries since joining United, but the last year has still had many special moments: making your United debut last December, your debut for Brazil in February, a full

An eye-catching celebration at Durham’s Maiden Castle!

pre-season in summer without injury and then your first United goal in October – a year to be proud of...

I wouldn’t say I’m really proud of that because, yeah, it’s great to make my debut for Brazil against Argentina and start a match against Canada, but I’m not really satisfied with that. I want more. Anyone that knows me knows I’m an ambitious player. I always want more. So, I’d say I’m going in the right direction. I’m happy that, after my injury, I’ve had a good start. But I’d say I’m more thinking ‘I’m going the right way’ and there’s more to come.

If we can go back a bit to your early career. For United fans who don’t know, can you tell us about where you grew up and how you got into playing football?

So, I grew up in Brazil and then when I was six, I moved to Germany. Then I started to play football, like normal, on the street. I played with my brother and my cousin and then later, when I was nine, I started to play with a club.

And your first big club was SC Freiburg where you progressed quite quickly, first with the Under-17s, then training with the first team and getting some game-time in Germany’s second tier...

Yeah, I was quite young. I was like 15 playing for the U17s. When I was 16, I started to train with the first team, but also still playing U17s. When I was 17, I got my professional contract and then to get more minutes I played for the second team in the 2. Bundesliga. I made my debut when I was 17, in the first team, and this experience was really amazing for me. It was such a ⊲

“I WAS IN SHOCK, TO BE HONEST, I DIDN’T BELIEVE THAT I’D SCORED! THE EMOTIONS CAME BECAUSE MY LAST YEAR WAS REALLY HARD” 25

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

FACTFILE: Full name Ivana Ferreira Fuso Date of birth 12 March 2001 Place of birth Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Position Forward Youth career 2016-17 SC Freiburg Senior career 2017-18 SC Freiburg II, 10 games, 3 goals 2017–19 SC Freiburg, 3 games, 0 goals 2019–20 FC Basel, 14 games, 7 goals 2020- Manchester United, 7 games, 1 goal International career Germany U15/U16/U17/U19s Brazil: 2 caps, 0 goals young age, but it was important for me to get minutes, which is why I played more games in the second league, because I was 17. I also played a lot of games in the first league, but like I say, I was quite young.

And at the same time, you played a lot for Germany’s youth teams, as captain at the World Cup too...

My start in the national team was quite funny actually. I started as a full-back! I’d never played this position for my club, but I was quick and defending quite well and I was with the older ones. They were born in 2000 and I’m 2001.

So, it was quite funny because I also scored my first goal for Germany as a full-back, against Scotland. But I learnt a lot from that experience and it was a great time. I was

26

The 20-year-old – who got married in the summer and now goes by the surname Ferreira Fuso – made her seventh Reds appearance in our last Group B game

captain in the World Cup and in the Euros [both at U17 level]; it was like a long journey and one I took a lot from into my career right now. It helped me a lot.

You haven’t played full-back much since, of course...

No, no, it was only with the older ones because they were so tall and I am... quite small! It didn’t matter what position, I just wanted to play all the games.

As you say, you captained the German youth teams, but earlier this year, you made your Brazil debut.

It’s your mother who is Brazilian, right? Have you always dreamed of playing for Brazil eventually?

Yes, my mother. I haven’t taken a final decision yet because I can still play for Germany, and also for Italy.

But, yeah, we always have this conversation as a family.

Christmas time is the worst time; they always talk about it! But my mum was really, really happy when I was playing for Brazil. For Brazilians, it’s such an honour to play for your country and she was really happy. She told the whole family; she called everyone. It was quite funny!

During your first time with the Brazil squad, you got to play with Marta. Was she one of your idols growing up?

Yeah, of course she was. She is a fantastic player and also a fantastic person. When I met her, it was like, ‘oh, don’t say something stupid’ or ‘don’t be weird, be normal!’ I

IVANA FERREIRA FUSO

All smiles (as ever) alongside fellow Reds Kirsty Hanson and Leah Galton

A teenage star for Germany at youth level (way back in, er... March last year!)

This year saw Ivana make her senior Brazil debut in the SheBelieves Cup

Brazil legend Marta: “The best woman in the world”

“MY MUM WAS REALLY, REALLY HAPPY WHEN I WAS PLAYING FOR BRAZIL... SHE CALLED EVERYONE!” was in shock when I saw her because you never expect to see your idols at such a young age. I thought I’d see her maybe when I was a little bit older, but she was so nice.

She came to me, and she wanted to know everything about me. We sit together as a whole camp at the same table and we talked a lot and, of course, I asked her a lot of questions because she’s the best woman in the world.

Did you have any other role models?

My cousin, she plays for the Portuguese national team.

She played also for Santos. When I was little, she played with me, taught me a lot of things and later she went to

the United States to play professional football there. She’s also one of my biggest role models; I learnt a lot from her.

Now we support each other still. Neymar, Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo, they are also my idols. Seeing Ronaldo come back here was exciting, I’m just waiting to see him, but of course Covid makes everything different.

Now, you have been unfortunate with injuries at United. You had two in your first few months here, and then another in March of this year. How have you dealt with those set-backs?

I think because I believe in God. It was quite hard. It’s a hard mental time, so it’s so important that you get your mindset right. When you get your mindset right, you can look forward, think positive and move on. That’s the hard part but you have to do it because at the beginning you’re only sad, and you see only darkness. I had big support from my family, my team-mates and my friends.

They helped me a lot to get through it. It’s quite hard but because of them, they helped me to get my mindset right. ⊲ Manchester United Women v Chelsea Women 27 15

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF

IVANA FERREIRA FUSO and best clubs are in the Champions League and so being there, listening to the music; I would be so happy about that. That’s something special and I think it’s only in our hands. I think we have a good team, and when we do our jobs, we can get to where we want to be.

You loved working with Casey, but how has it been working with Marc?

He’s a great coach. He’s also different. He brings fresh air into a new environment and because he’s different, that makes him so special. Everyone can learn a lot from him, and, of course, we have to improve a lot. I think we are in a good way, and we can be where we want to be.

Lining up a left-footed rocket on the training ground

“IT’S A BIG DREAM OF MINE TO PLAY AT OLD TRAFFORD... IT WOULD BE AMAZING TO PLAY THERE” Everybody who talks about you mentions your positivity and how you smile a lot and bring your personality to training. They say it helps other people to be positive, too. What’s the secret behind that?

Yeah, as I said, it’s my religion. I believe in God – everyone knows that – and we say, in his words, you are the light of this world and let your light shine for everyone. It’s about being there for a person who’s suffering from something bad. I’m only offering hope and kindness and compassion. I’m not talking all the time about the Bible but if you’re kind... well, a kind word can change people’s entire day. I always say be kind, be nice, help others. And smile!

Your ankle injury meant you couldn’t play in the game at Old Trafford in March [as pictured below, with Ona Batlle]. We will be playing there again in March, against Everton – is that a key target for you, to be able to play at the Theatre of Dreams?

It’s a big dream of mine to play there, and to score there, but in the end, it doesn’t matter who scores. The most important thing is that we win there. It would be amazing to play, because the stories about Old Trafford are amazing. I hope we can play there more times.

You arrived in Manchester during the pandemic which must have been hard. You’ve now been here for a while and things have opened up a bit. Do you like the city?

I like Manchester a lot. I’m really enjoying life here. I don’t like the rain in Manchester, it kills me! It’s raining every day. I love the sun, so I need a bit more sun but I’m really enjoying life again after the lockdowns and I like the food here. I love to eat cheesecake with Nutella in San Carlo’s.

The cheesecake is amazing, you have to try it.

Okay, back to on the pitch, you’ve got your first United goal, now what are your goals for the rest of 2021/22?

I want to score more, more assists, to play more, and I want to play a good season. I want to help my team, because I couldn’t help a lot last season. And I don’t want to get injured again!

You recently had a Q&A with kids from Waterhead Academy in Oldham. Do you feel you’re getting to know the region and community more?

Yeah, seeing the kids playing football reminded me of my own story. You’re not thinking about many things, you just play football. It was making me so happy to see them be really happy and scoring goals. I feel like I’m now really at home here. I feel great. Of course, I want more sun, but it’s okay, I can go through it!

Everyone at the club is eager to break into that top three because it would give us Champions League football. I imagine that’s a big dream of yours as well?

I think for everyone, it’s the big dream. The best players

And finally, what’s your short message to fans?

I’m back. I will give everything for this club. I’m going to score many goals, do my job, giving many assists and show my best – and show my Brazilian skills! ⬤

29

THE VISITORS

Away from their stuttering WSL form, the three-times winners of tonight’s competition have started Group B in blistering fashion...

Goalscorer Jess Park is congratulated by skipper Ellen White after netting City’s fourth goal against Everton on the League Cup’s opening matchday

MAN CITY Challenging for the WSL title already looks like an almighty task for City after the Blues won just one of their opening five games of the league campaign, but the Continental Tyres League Cup has helped return Gareth Taylor’s effervescent side to winning ways.

Only added to the group stage after they failed to progress from the Champions League qualifying rounds, City delivered arguably their best performance of the season in dispatching Everton 5-1 in their first fixture in Group B, before a more experimental side beat Durham 3-0. Scottish midfielder Caroline Weir – superb for Team GB at this summer’s Olympics – scored in both victories, the classy 26-year-old operating as the conduit through which City developed their play from back to front.

The tournament has also been a good opportunity for Ruby Mace, a summer arrival from Arsenal, to get some invaluable first-team experience. The England Under-19 international only turned 18 in September, but is highly rated by the City coaching staff and showed impressive defensive composure and no little talent in the shutout against Durham in early November. It has also helped that City’s injury crisis is easing. Though England regulars Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze and Ellie Roebuck are likely

30

to remain out until the end of the month, Keira Walsh and Filippa Angeldal have returned to full fitness to offer passing precision and improved dynamism in midfield.

Elsewhere, Jill Scott has slotted in seamlessly in an unfamiliar centre-back position, the 34-year-old using all her leadership qualities to transfer the uptick in the League Cup into the WSL. Ten days ago against Leicester, City conceded inside a minute but remained patient to eventually prevail 4-1, securing just their second WSL win of the season ahead of Sunday’s home meeting with champions Chelsea. “We’re in a good moment,” said Taylor, speaking after the Leicester win. “It was a tough start but we showed real character and determination, and we played some exceptional football.”

Creating chances certainly hasn’t been a problem.

Despite their initial struggles, City are a progressive, front-foot side with the second-highest expected goals figure – the metric which measures the quality of opportunities created – in the league at the time of writing. With Ellen White’s return to goalscoring form and Janine Beckie, who won Olympic gold with Canada this summer, offering thrust from the right, City will hope to start taking the chances their build-up play deserves.

THE VISITORS

THE MANAGER GARETH TAYLOR Part of the City coaching fabric for 11 years since returning to the club he served for three years as a player from 1998, Taylor is now in his second season as manager of the women’s team and won his first managerial trophy last November in the delayed 2020 FA Cup final. A veteran of nearly 600 Football League appearances for Sheffield United, Burnley and Nottingham Forest, among others, the 48-year-old’s coaching acumen is no less impressive, working for City since 2011, before replacing Nick Cushing in the women’s team dugout in May 2020.

ONE TO WATCH KEIRA WALSH It’s no coincidence that City’s recent revival has corresponded with Walsh’s convalescence from injury – the 2016 WSL champions won just one of the five games the influential Rochdale-born pass-master missed with a calf problem. Blessed with supreme vision, the England international began her youth career at Blackburn but soon joined City and made her senior debut in 2014, aged 17. The midfielder has since played more than 130 games for the Blues, winning seven major honours for the club she supported as a girl.

PREVIOUS v THE REDS LAUREN HEMP Player of the Match when tonight’s teams met in the WSL in early October, Hemp is a contender for City’s best performer so far in 2021/22. No player in the division has attempted more crosses or carried the ball into the penalty area more times this term than the 21-year-old wide forward, whose express pace and direct running delivered three goals in her first nine appearances this season. PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year for three of the past four seasons, Norfolk-born Hemp joined the club from Bristol City in 2018 and is now an England regular.

number trail

8-1

City’s aggregate score across their two League Cup group games to date this season, placing them top of Group B.

4 Ahead of their weekend fixture against Chelsea in the WSL, City’s top 2021/22 scorer was Caroline Weir, with four goals.

3 Number of times the Blues have won tonight’s competition, lifting the trophy in 2014, 2016 and 2019.

8 Taylor’s side reached the last eight of the competition in 2020/21, before eventual winners Chelsea beat them 4-2.

27

FINAL 2021

T i c sn s a n o Adults £20-25, Kids £2.50 5th December Wembley Stadium Connected by ee

21206-VWFAC-TOS-PA-148x210.indd 1

thefa.com/ticketing

20/08/2021 09:21

FANS’ PAGE

BRILLIANT BAGGALEY!

CONTI CUP MEMORIES Draw four lines to match up the four fixtures below – all from this evening’s competition...

19 August 2018 ⬤ Liverpool v United 19 November 2020 ⬤ United v Manchester City

⬤ The Reds’ record home attendance (4,835) ⬤ Success in our first penalty shoot-out ⬤ The Reds’ biggest-ever home victory

FANS’ GALLERY ← ‘Here is the family supporting the Reds,’ writes Sharon Tillson.

Enjoy the game tonight too!

← Happy 14th birthday to Mel, who is at the match with her family tonight to celebrate!

← Freya and Esmae Heaton loved the ‘fantastic atmosphere’ at the derby last month.

2.

Her previous clubs are Birmingham City (26 games) and Bristol City (90 games) 3.

She faced United three times while at Bristol City – twice last year and once in May

4.

She also played for Bristol City in the final of tonight’s competition last season 5.

Sophie was named the WSL Players’ Player of the Year in 2018/19 6.

The keeper has played for England at five levels: U17, U19, U20, U21 and U23

MIXED-UP MAESTROS Rearrange the letters to find the three United stars...

SERIOUS SALSA REPAY MARS NINE CAGE JOKER

GET IN TOUCH! Send your pictures, birthday shout-outs and messages to MUWomenfamily@manutd.co.uk

Answers:

21 November 2019 ⬤ United v Leicester City

⬤ Victory in the Reds’ first-ever game

1.

She made her Reds debut in the 2-2 Conti Cup draw away to Durham

Conti Cup memories – United v Reading = record home attendance; United v Leicester = biggest-ever home victory; Liverpool v United = first-ever game; United v City = first shoot-out.

Mixed-up maestros – 1. Alessia Russo; 2. Mary Earps; 3. Jackie Groenen

25 August 2018 ⬤ United v Reading

Six facts on the keeper, who could make her first home outing tonight!

QUESTION TIME

HALF-TIME QUIZ Conti Cup questions feature heavily tonight – good luck!

1. Who scored her first WSL goal for United in the most recent Manchester derby?

2. Which club have the Reds been drawn against in all four of our Continental League Cup campaigns so far?

8. True or false: United have not lost a Continental Cup group game at home since winning promotion to the Women’s Super League.

9. Which former Red scored United’s only goal in the competition last term (right)?

3. Which two players have scored in both of United’s Continental Cup shoot-outs to date (above)?

10. How many games would the Reds have to play to win the Continental Cup this season?

4. How many previous Manchester derbies have been played at Leigh Sports Village?

5. And other than City, who were the Reds’ last home opponents in this competition?

6. Which United defender won the Continental Cup last season (right)?

7. What is the furthest round United have ever reached in tonight’s competition?

11. For which club did Alex Greenwood (above) play between appearing for United and City?

12. Ivana Ferreira Fuso scored her first Reds goal against Durham, but which fellow youngster provided the assist?

ANSWERS: 1. Lucy Staniforth; 2. Everton; 3. Ella Toone and Hayley Ladd; 4. Five; 5. Chelsea; 6. Hannah Blundell; 7. Semi-finals; 8. True; 9. Abbie McManus; 10. Seven; 11. Lyon; 12. Carrie Jones

34

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Dedicated staff deliver educational and community outreach programmes to help young people make positive choices in their lives.

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APPEARANCES, GOALS & WSL STATISTICS FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE TABLE, 2021/22 SEASON

UNITED APPEARANCES AND GOALS, 2021/22 SEASON PLAYER

P

W

D

L

GD

FA CUP

LEAGUE CUP

TOTAL

Sophie Baggaley 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 Ona Batlle

7 1 0 0 0 0 7 1

Hannah Blundell 7 0 0 0 1 0 8 0 Vilde Boe Risa Mary Earps

2(1)

0

0

0

1

0

3(1)

0

7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0

Ivana Ferreira Fuso 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 Leah Galton

7 1 0 0 0(1) 0 7(1) 1

Jackie Groenen 4(1) 0 0 0 0 0 4(1) 0 Kirsty Hanson 5(2) 1 0 0 0(1) 0 5(3) 1 Martha Harris

0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

Carrie Jones

0(2) 0 0 0 1 0 1(2) 0

Hayley Ladd

1(2) 0 0 0 1 0 2(2) 0

Aoife Mannion 7 0 0 0 1 0 8 0 Alessia Russo

Team

LEAGUE

APP GLS APP GLS APP GLS APP GLS

4(3) 3 0 0 1 0 5(3) 3

Pts

Lucy Staniforth 4(3) 1 0 0 1 0 5(3) 1

1 Arsenal

7 6 1 0 21 19

Martha Thomas 1(3) 1 0 0 0 0 1(3) 1

2 Chelsea

7 6 0 1 17 18

Maria Thorisdottir 6(1) 1 0 0 1 0 7(1) 1

3 Brighton

7 5 0 2 7 15

Ella Toone

4 Tottenham

7 4 2 1 4 14

Millie Turner

1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

5 UNITED

7 3 3 1 1 12

Katie Zelem

7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0

6 Aston Villa

7 3 1 3 -5 10

7 West Ham

7 2 3 2 0 9

8 Reading

7 2 1 4 -4 7

7 3 0 0 0(1) 1 7(1) 4

9 Manchester City 7 2 1 4 -5 7 10 Everton

7 2 1 4 -7 7

11 Birmingham

7 0 1 6 -14 1

12 Leicester

7 0 0 7 -15 0

Blundell’s played all eight 2021/22 games

CONTINENTAL LEAGUE CUP, GROUP B TABLE

Team

P

1 Man City 2

W

W PEN L PEN

L

GD

Pts

2 0 0 0 7 6

UNITED ALL-TIME APPS & GOALS

2 Everton

2

1 0 0 1 -2 3

Apps

Goals

3 UNITED

1

0 1 0 0 0 2

Ella Toone

82

36

4 Durham

2

0 0 1 1 -3 1

Millie Turner

77

5

5 Leicester 1

0 0 0 1 -2 0

Katie Zelem

77

20

Kirsty Hanson

75

16

W PEN = penalty shoot-out win (bonus point)

Amy Turner

67

4

The five group winners will join Champions League teams Chelsea and Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the competition

Jessica Sigsworth

66

26

Aimee Palmer

15

1

Leah Galton

64

15

Alessia Russo

13

6

Lauren James

56

28

Tobin Heath

11

4

TONIGHT’S OTHER CONTINENTAL LEAGUE CUP FIXTURES

Kirsty Smith

52

1

Lotta Okvist

10

0

Mary Earps

51

0

Hannah Blundell

8

0

GROUP A

Martha Harris

47

1

Aoife Mannion

8

0

Jackie Groenen

46

0

Ivana Ferreira Fuso

7

1

Hayley Ladd

46

2

Carrie Jones

7

0

Lizzie Arnot

34

9

Emily Ramsey

6

0

Jane Ross

34

7

Martha Thomas

4

1

Ona Batlle

30

1

Vilde Boe Risa

4

0

Mollie Green

29

16

Naomi Hartley

3

0

Siobhan Chamberlain 27

0

Fran Bentley

2

0

Liverpool v Blackburn (7pm) Aston Villa v Sheffield United (7.30pm) GROUP B Durham v Leicester (right) (7pm) GROUP C Charlton v Coventry (7.30pm) Watford v Tottenham (7.30pm) GROUP D Bristol City v Lewes (7.30pm) Crystal Palace v Reading (right) (8pm) GROUP E Brighton v London City Lionesses (7pm) Birmingham v West Ham (7.30pm)

Hanson made her 75th appearance CITY and durham ADDED TO BOTH away to Everton Apps

Goals

Alex Greenwood

27

5

Aurora Mikalsen

1

0

Lucy Staniforth

26

2

Tara Bourne

1

0

Abbie McManus

25

2

Rebecca May

1

0

Charlie Devlin

20

6

Sophie Baggaley

1

0

Christen Press

17

4

Maria Thorisdottir

16

1

(Names in italics have left the club)

37

SEASON STATISTICS

LINE-UP

ATTENDANCE

SCORE

OPPOSITION

DATE

COMPETITION

FIXTURES & LINE-UPS, 2021/22 AUGUST SEPTEMBER

WSL

Fri 3

Reading (H) 7.45pm 2-0 2,111 Earps

Blundell Mannion Thorisdottir Batlle 1

Boe Risa

WSL

Sun 12

Leicester (A) 2pm

3-1

Blundell Mannion Turner

Zelem

Groenen

WSL

Sun 26

Chelsea (H) 12.30pm

1-6 2,197 Earps

Groenen

WSL

Sun 3

Birmingham (A) 6.45pm 2-0

650

WSL

Sat 9

Man City (H) 1.30pm

2-2

3,797

CC

Thu 14

Durham (A) 7pm

2-2* 1,468

WSL

Sun 7

Tottenham (A) 12.15pm 1-1 1,308 Earps

Batlle

Mannion Thorisdottir Blundell Zelem

Ladd

WSL

Sun 14

Everton (A) 12.30pm

Batlle

Mannion

Boe Risa

CC

Wed 17

Man City (H) 7pm

WSL

Sun 21

Arsenal (H) 12.15pm

CC

Sun 5

Leicester (H) 12pm

WSL

Sun 12

Brighton (A) 2pm

CC

Wed 15

Everton (A) 7pm

WSL

Sun 19

Aston Villa (H) 12pm

WSL

Sun 9

West Ham (A) 3pm

WSL

Sat 15

Birmingham (H) 12pm

4,473

Earps

Batlle

Zelem

Blundell Mannion

Thorisdottir Batlle

Zelem

Earps

Batlle

Mannion

Thorisdottir

Blundell

Zelem Groenen

Earps

Blundell

Mannion

Thorisdottir

Batlle

Zelem

Groenen

Mannion

Thorisdottir

Blundell

Boe Risa

Ladd

OCTOBER

N OVE MBE R

1-1

TBC

Baggaley Harris

Earps

DE CEMBER

JANUARY

CC 19/20 Quarter-finals WSL

Sun 23

Tottenham (H) 12pm

FA

Sun 30

Fourth round

FEBRUARY

CC 2/3

Semi-final

WSL

Sun 6

Arsenal (A) 3pm

WSL

Sun 13

Man City (A) 2pm

FA

Sun 27

Fifth round

WSL

Sat 5

Leicester (H) 12pm

CC

5/6

Final

WSL

Sun 13

Reading (A) 2pm

FA

Sun 20

Quarter-finals

WSL

Sun 27

Everton (H) 12pm

M ARCH

A PRIL

WSL

Sun 3

Brighton (H) 12pm

FA

Sun 17

Semi-finals

WSL

Sun 24

Aston Villa (A) 6pm

WSL

Sun 1

West Ham (H) 12pm

WSL

Sun 8

Chelsea (A) 12.30pm

FA

Sat 14

Final

MAY

38

Thorisdottir

Blundell

Zelem

SEASON STATISTICS Facebook: manutdwomen

Match programme contact: MUWomenfamily@manutd.co.uk For ticket information visit: ManUtd.com/Tickets

Hanson 1 Staniforth

Galton

YouTube: /ManUtd

Twitter: @manutdwomen

Toone

Thomas

Toone 1

Hanson Staniforth

Galton

Hanson Staniforth

Galton

Toone

Instagram: @manutdwomen

SUBS USED

FOLLOW THE REDS ▶

Groenen

Thorisdottir 1

Russo

–

–

Russo

–

–

Jones

–

–

Thomas 1

Russo 1

Ladd

Toone 1

Hanson

Russo 1

Staniforth 1

Russo

Staniforth

Hanson

Staniforth Hanson

Toone

Galton 1

Galton

Russo

Fuso 1

Toone

Galton

Russo 1 Staniforth

Thomas

Thomas

Hanson

WSL - Women’s Super League * won on penalties

First sub

Hanson

Staniforth

Toone 1

CC - FA Continental League Cup Second sub

Jones

Third sub

–

–

Jones

Toone 1 Russo Galton

KEY:

Boe Risa Ladd

Galton

–

–

–

FA - Women’s FA Cup Fourth sub

–

–

–

–

–

–

Scorers Bold

Fifth sub

– –

Penalty •

Yellow/red card

(United score listed first. All fixtures subject to change – visit ManUtd.com/fixtures for the latest fixtures information)

39

Martha Harris Maria Thorisdottir Aoife Mannion Hannah Blundell Ella Toone Vilde Boe Risa Martha Thomas Katie Zelem Leah Galton Hayley Ladd Ivana Ferreira Fuso Jackie Groenen Ona Batlle Kirsty Hanson Kirsty Smith Millie Turner Alessia Russo Carrie Jones Mary Earps (GK) Sophie Baggaley (GK) Lucy Staniforth

2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 20 21 23 24 27 32 37

1 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 24 26 30 33 34

Karen Bardsley (GK) Demi Stokes Alex Greenwood Steph Houghton Laura Coombs Jill Scott Chloe Kelly Georgia Stanway Janine Beckie Filippa Angeldahl Hayley Raso Esme Morgan Lauren Hemp Jess Park Vicky Losada Ellen White Caroline Weir Lucy Bronze Khadija Shaw Keira Walsh Ellie Roebuck (GK) Ruby Mace Alanna Kennedy Karima Benameur Taieb (GK)

MATCH OFFICIALS Referee Helen Conley ⬤ Assistants Lisa Rashid, Melissa Burgin Fourth official Amy Fearn

MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN

MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN

#allredallequal