Marc Skinner dedicates Women's FA Cup win to Man Utd fans

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner said that he has achieved what he originally set out to do with the club when he first arrived by winning the Women's FA Cup for the fans.

United got their hands on a first major trophy in a landmark moment at Wembley by putting four goals past Tottenham Hotspur in a less than 20-minute spell straddling half-time.

Since reforming a women's first-team in 2018, expectations of success have been high at a club that has commanded a loyal fanbase since day one.

Nearly 5,000 supporters turned out for the first ever home game six years ago and Wembley's east end on Sunday was a sea of red after a 12,000 allocation quickly sold out. Many of them, not even counting an army of loyal overseas fans, had been there from the club's very beginning. United shirts were also prominent among the neutral blocks.

Warwick services on the M40 was the scene of an unofficial United merch stand on Sunday morning as droves made their way from the north to London by road. Trains were filled and coachloads had also left Old Trafford as the sun rose, while plenty set off for the capital a day early to stay overnight.

"I always said when I came here I wanted to deliver trophies for the best fanbase in the world," Skinner told reporters as he left Wembley on Sunday evening.

"The ones that came out in force and the ones that couldn't [be at Wembley] - we dedicate that to you for everything that you give us. We want it to be the start, not the end, so we've got to kick on. But I want every Manchester United fan to celebrate and be proud of their contribution."

For Skinner, who has come under fire from some fans this season, it was also the end of seven years of personal hurt. He was previously a losing manager at Wembley in 2017 when his Birmingham City side were thrashed by Manchester City. He was then unable to set that right when Chelsea narrowly prevailed over United in last season's final.

"It's nice to feel and be in the moment with it," the United boss explained. "The players have been incredible, the staff have been incredible. We're not where we want to be in the league, we have to caveat that. We want to be higher up, of course. But to add a historic moment for our fantastic club feels great and we should spend a moment to appreciate it."

Skinner admitted that he found it so "lonely" in the technical area towards the end of his first Wembley experience that he had to have an assistant coach stand with him. He also explained that Carl Green, one of his United backroom team, told him after the final whistle this time: "Take a moment, because in seven years you’ve come a long way."

Whether the 41-year-old, who succeeded Casey Stoney in 2021, will be United manager next season remains unconfirmed. His contract is due to expire next month and it has been reported that the offer of a new 12-month deal has been put forward by the club. 

"I don't care about who tells me I can't do something," he said. "If anything, that's my fuel. I want to lead this team into a successful era. Who knows, maybe that will happen. But for now, here, I've delivered what I said I would do to the fans, which is a trophy."

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