Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the headline‑grabbing moments from the second round of the Women's Super League, giving readers a deeper look at the narratives shaping the women's game. Manchester United experienced a watershed under former manager Marc Skinner.
After clinching their first major trophy in 2024, Skinner guided the team to the quarter‑finals of the Champions League in their debut European season and saw them reach three domestic cup finals. All the indicators suggested a club on an upward trajectory, a platform from which to launch further success. Fast forward to the present and the picture is starkly different.
Skinner has departed, and United now sit at the very bottom of the WSL table, sporting a goal‑difference that is even worse than that of newly promoted Charlton Athletic. After years of incremental progress, the side appears to be in clear decline. The Red Devils are currently enduring their longest winless streak in the league since the team was re‑established in 2018 – six matches without a victory.
Although the sample size of two opening defeats is small, each loss has exposed serious structural problems. The bruising results have placed immediate pressure on new boss Eva Olid, who is still in the early stages of her tenure. Olid’s predicament should not be blamed solely on the two poor performances. She inherited a squad that was already showing signs of deeper malaise.
After a 5‑0 drubbing by Chelsea – a team that fielded no recognised striker – Olid said, "I don't like the heads down. Heads up and we have to continue." Her call for a more confident, forward‑looking attitude reflects the need for a cultural shift as much as a tactical one.
From this point forward Olid must adopt a defiant stance, but she also has a legitimate right to question the level of support she receives from the club hierarchy. Internally, conversations about resources and backing are likely already underway. The lack of confidence displayed on the pitch mirrors the broader hesitancy the club has shown toward its women’s programme. Criticism of Manchester United’s investment – or lack thereof – in the women’s side has been abundant.
The club’s decision to focus on youth development, a cheaper alternative to signing established stars, was a key factor in Skinner’s departure, which was publicly framed as a mutual separation. The 43‑year‑old manager had repeatedly asked for more tools and personnel to compete at the highest level; it appears those requests were met with resistance. If the challenge facing Olid was not obvious before, the opening two games have laid it out in stark terms.
United have matched the record for the fewest shots taken by a non‑newly promoted side in their first two fixtures, a dubious honour they share with Leicester City’s relegated squad from last season. Every team needs an adjustment period after a managerial change, and those transitions are rarely smooth. United’s history against Chelsea is telling – they have failed in all 14 attempts to beat the Blues in the league, and the recent 5‑0 loss simply continues that bleak trend. Losing by such a margin is rare for United, underscoring how fragile the foundation Skinner built now feels.
Next weekend United travel to Arsenal, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. With so many areas needing improvement, it is difficult to pinpoint a single starting point.
Perhaps the only direction left is upward. Olid cannot allow performances to deteriorate further.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s emphatic win served as a reminder of their dominance when they are at full strength. After being criticised for a 1‑1 draw with Aston Villa, Sonia Bompastor’s side responded with a display that left United no mercy. Bompastor summed it up: "When you have the chance to really hurt a team, the best respect you can show is to score as many goals as possible." Chelsea’s attack was relentless. Lauren James continued to be the focal point, but this time she was matched by the brilliance of teammates such as Keira Walsh, Sjoeke Nusken and Wieke Kaptein, who all topped the duel count.
Full‑backs Katie McCabe and Ellie Carpenter provided width, while Lucy Bronze even ventured forward from centre‑back, creating space for James to exploit. James recorded 19 shots in just two games – the highest tally in the league – and demonstrates the potential of a false‑9 role when Chelsea lack a traditional striker due to injury or loss of form. Bompastor will need to manage James wisely, as relying on a single outlet each week is unsustainable.
Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures include a clash with Arsenal followed by a Champions League tie against Lyon, both of which will present far stiffer challenges than United. Turning to Arsenal, the return of midfielder Katie Stanway has been a bright spot. After leaving for Bayern Munich in 2022, Stanway has come back to the WSL a more complete player.
In her debut for the Gunners she completed 98 passes, and across the first two matchweeks she has amassed 194 passes – more than any other player except Liverpool centre‑back Grace Fisk. Ninety‑one of those passes were directed into the final third, a league‑leading figure that opens up attacking possibilities and eases the creative burden on Mariona Caldentey. Stanway’s precision and vision have already begun to reshape Arsenal’s play. Her ability to find teammates in dangerous areas contributed to a breakthrough against Crystal Palace, even though Alessia Russo was wasteful with the chances she created.
With Stanway pulling the strings, Arsenal are less likely to rely on a single creator and can diversify their attacking threat. In summary, Manchester United’s early-season slide highlights deeper structural issues that go beyond a new manager’s short‑term results. While Eva Olid must rally her squad and demand greater backing from the club, the broader conversation about investment, recruitment strategy and cultural confidence remains pivotal.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s clinical performance under Bompastor and Arsenal’s emerging midfield dynamism illustrate the contrasting fortunes at the top of the league. The coming weeks will be crucial for United as they seek to halt the decline and rediscover the promise that once seemed within reach.