Man Utd WSL title challenge: Why Chelsea clash is the 'ultimate acid test'

Chelsea remain the last team for Manchester United to conquer – and if the Red Devils can finally do that on Sunday a first ever WSL title is potentially theirs for the taking.

Since reforming a first-team squad in 2018, United have beaten every club they have ever faced more than once in competitive action at least twice – most more than that. That includes both Arsenal (three wins) and Manchester City (two wins). But never Chelsea.

Chelsea are the only team that United are yet to beat in any setting – the closest they came was back in September 2020 during Casey Stoney’s time in charge. More recently, Marc Skinner’s United led twice against Chelsea on the final day of last season before succumbing to defeat, yet crumbled to a 6-1 thrashing at the start of that campaign and fell short again in their first meeting of 2022/23.

United have had a steelier determination about them this season, the kind so often associated with serial-winning Chelsea teams of recent years. The setbacks of twice narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification have built character.

Skinner, now almost 20 months into the job, puts it down to experience.

“The biggest [change in the last two years] that comes to mind is experiences. The team had experiences under Casey and were growing at that time. We’ve had our own experiences since and we took some losses where we weren’t happy and had to look hard and long – if you want to be successful, you have to look at those moments and grow from them,” the boss explained.

“We go back to the Arsenal game – where we were facing defeat again, we had a choice to make. We could either keep trying to push and push and push to get back into the game and try to win it, or we could accept and feel sorry for ourselves. I think that’s where we have grown a lot.”

United went into games against Arsenal and City in November and December respectively with a different mindset. No longer were they scared to lose those games. Now, they want to win them. At the Emirates Stadium, it was a remarkable spectacle and a statement comeback win. At the Etihad Stadium, United led and came off the pitch disappointed not to hold on for all three points.

Leah Galton reflected that attitude in a recent interview with 90min. “We just feel a bit more confident going into big games and big weeks,” the winger said.

Skinner also points to his own record at former clubs Birmingham and Orlando Pride, where it initially took time for his ideas to bed in: “We trend upwards.” The same could be said of United.

Leading the WSL, one point ahead of Chelsea, and now aiming higher then the top three ambition they brought into the season, Sunday’s game has never been bigger.

Asked this week if Chelsea is now the ‘ultimate acid test’ for his team, Skinner agreed it is.

“What Chelsea have, and they’ve shown that in the last three or four seasons, when the chips are down, they find a moment to try and win the game,” he said.

“This is probably the most difficult fixture in the season, but we have to have this rebellious nature otherwise you’re never going to achieve anything. We have to go with confidence that we can put into our performances and try to maximise any opportunities we create in the game. I’m looking forward to us having to do that because we train hard for these moments.”

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