It was a “assertion” efficiency, however Manchester United have been nonetheless left wanting greater than the purpose they took from a facet that has gained the final six Ladies’s Tremendous League titles.
United to the brand new season as Anna Sandberg’s chic volley cancelled out Wieke Kaptein’s beautiful opener.
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It was a major end result for the Crimson Devils, who had misplaced 10 and drawn considered one of their 11 earlier league encounters with the Blues.
But boss Marc Skinner was “disenchanted” United got here away with one relatively than all three factors as they prolonged their unbeaten run to 5 video games.
Ella Toone wasted probabilities both facet of the interval, whereas Jess Park ought to have achieved higher with a chipped effort, earlier than coming shut with a dipping volley.
“I felt like Manchester United will in all probability be kicking themselves,” ex-England midfielder Fara Williams advised BBC Three.
“They created a variety of good probabilities and perhaps if that they had higher composure of their last third to execute, they’d have come out on high.”
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Nonetheless, United may have simply as simply walked away with nothing.
Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made an excellent late save to disclaim Chelsea’s Keira Walsh, whereas each defenders Maya Le Tissier and Sandberg put their our bodies on the road within the closing phases to maintain the Blues at bay.
“They’re the primary group to take factors off Chelsea this season,” former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis added on BBC Three.
“If they should put out a press release to their very own membership and reaffirm what Manchester United’s ambition is, they’ve earned each little bit of that.”
Draw reveals how far ‘bettering’ Man Utd have come
Midfielder Jess Park stated “it is actually coming collectively” for United this season [Getty Images]
The large query at the beginning of this season – the identical one which’s been requested during the last six WSL campaigns – is whether or not anybody can finish Chelsea’s dominance.
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The Blues gained final time period’s trophy by going 22 video games unbeaten in Sonia Bompastor’s first season on the helm – a part of a home treble as they lifted the Ladies’s FA Cup and League Cup too.
In reality, it has been greater than 500 days since Chelsea final misplaced a league sport – a 4-3 defeat at Liverpool on 1 Might, 2024.
Manchester United got here near ending that streak on Friday night time in a top-two encounter and Skinner was pleased with “probably the most courageous efficiency” from his gamers.
“We’re constructing. You’ll be able to see it, you possibly can sense it,” he stated.
“We’re disenchanted to not win the sport. The possibilities we created, not many groups may create that in opposition to Chelsea. So for us to do this and in the way in which we did it was credit score to them [the players].”
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Since their promotion from the Ladies’s Championship in 2019, United have quickly emerged as WSL title contenders, ending simply two factors behind Chelsea in 2022-23.
The next season they gained the FA Cup – their first main girls’s trophy.
Whereas a draw in opposition to the present league leaders could also be deemed a missed alternative for United, former England striker White believed it confirmed how far the membership has come.
“It’s important to have a look at that consistency,” she stated. “They’ve performed 11 instances in opposition to Chelsea now and solely drawn as soon as, now the second time, so I feel it is actually good for his or her consistency and what they’re doing as a membership and a group.
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“It reveals it is working and so they’re bettering.”
Requested if Skinner deserved extra credit score for United’s rise to compete with extra established golf equipment, White added: “What he is achieved with these gamers, the philosophy, the DNA, how resolute they’re.
“He hasn’t bought the amount of cash or been capable of spend the amount of cash the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal or [Manchester] Metropolis have achieved.”
The place does this depart title race?
Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are the one three unbeaten groups within the league this season [Getty Images]
Chelsea’s excellent begin might have ended, however they nonetheless stay high on 13 factors – two factors away from United.
However Skinner stated his facet’s show on the Progress With Unity Stadium – the place Chelsea clinched final season’s title – proved the Blues will not have it fairly as simple this time round.
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“It reveals to Chelsea they are not simply going to stroll the league,” he added.
“We want to ensure everyone seems to be placing a problem in. I feel the league is getting higher and also you noticed the standard, that we’re progressing too.”
Blues boss Bompastor was “not comfortable” with Chelsea’s efficiency, however stated a draw was “not a foul end result at Manchester United”.
Requested if United have been title challengers, she added: “I see many groups being actual competitors for us, each sport brings a special problem. It’s important to be prepared for each sport.”
Manchester Metropolis, who misplaced to Chelsea within the season opener, may shut the hole on the leaders to 1 level in the event that they beat Arsenal at residence on Saturday (12:00 BST).
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Final season’s runners-up Arsenal, in the meantime, have floor to make up after dropping factors in opposition to each United and Aston Villa, and boss Renee Slegers shall be eyeing the Gunners’ residence sport in opposition to Chelsea on 8 November as a solution to get themselves again in rivalry.