Ladies’s Champions League: Manchester United v Paris St-Germain
Venue: Outdated Trafford, Manchester Date: Wednesday, 12 November Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Protection: Watch on BBC Three & BBC iPlayer, commentary on BBC Radio 5 Stay & BBC Sounds, reside textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site & app
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“Written within the stars, some may say.”
After 501 days since her departure, Mary Earps is returning to Manchester United.
However the goalkeeper, who performed 125 instances for the membership throughout a five-year spell, shall be lining up on the opposite facet of the pitch when Paris St-Germain go to Outdated Trafford within the Ladies’s Champions League on Wednesday.
“I knew it from the second they certified. Typically you simply really feel it. Possibly I manifested it, I do not know,” Earps informed BBC Sport.
The 32-year-old mentioned she exchanged messages together with her former United team-mate Ella Toone straight after the draw was made, whereas she added: “Going again to Outdated Trafford which is a particular place, with so many superb reminiscences. I am wanting ahead to the sport.”
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The highlight will definitely be on Earps, who has dominated headlines in latest weeks for feedback about in her newly launched autobiography.
“Mary was all the time a pacesetter,” mentioned United supervisor Marc Skinner in his pre-match information convention. “She all the time had a voice and her personal opinion – I all the time welcomed that. She all the time mentioned what she was considering.
“We welcome her again and completely respect her for what she did right here. We additionally welcome her again as an opponent and I’ve to be clear on that. Through the sport, it is about us attempting to win towards Mary.”
With United chasing a 3rd successive win within the competitors, what kind of reception can Earps anticipate at Outdated Trafford and the way has she fared within the French capital?
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‘She reworked’ in five-year spell
Mary Earps was an enormous draw when she was at Manchester United [Getty Images]
Earps was a massively in style determine at United following her arrival in 2019 from Wolfsburg.
She performed each league sport for 4 seasons as United’s outright primary and gained the Ladies’s FA Cup in Might 2024 – the membership’s first main trophy – earlier than heading to France when her contract expired.
Earps had been provided a brand new deal to remain however, after a lot deliberation, she rejected it, saying the membership had been getting ready to “endure a interval of transition” that “didn’t align” with the place she was in her profession.
“I believe she is going to get a superb reception. Her time at Manchester United was excellent,” ex-England midfielder Fara Williams informed Soccer Focus.
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“She took them to their first Champions League end whereas she was there. She had second-placed finishes with United, performed in FA Cup finals. She had a good time on the membership and the followers adored her, so I am certain she’ll return to a superb reception.”
Earps, although, was much less hopeful.
“I am most likely anticipating a little bit booing,” she admitted. “I hope it is a little bit bit, nevertheless it could be quite a bit.
“A number of of the followers have come out to assist me at PSG, however Manchester United is their primary workforce. I perceive that.”
Whereas he cannot management what reception Earps will obtain, Skinner mentioned he was wanting ahead to welcoming her again to Manchester and hopes the brand new ebook is not going to change folks’s perceptions of her.
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“Deep down I do know Mary is an efficient individual,” he added. “I am certain a part of bringing out a ebook is bringing out controversial stuff that may assist promote the ebook. I do know that she has to defend that publicly.
“Figuring out the human she is, I am certain she shall be getting criticism that she will not like. It is a part of the opposite facet of releasing a ebook.
“However she’s an awesome individual, she does not want me to say that basically. I hope folks toe the road with criticism, however I am certain Mary understands the state of affairs she’s put herself in.
“She’s on a platform the place individuals are all for what she says, in order that’s a credit score to her and to her laborious work.
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“The goalkeeper we had at the beginning, to the one which left, was not the identical individual. She reworked.”
How has Earps fared at PSG?
Talking in a BBC interview earlier this yr, Earps mentioned her transfer to PSG had allowed her to flee “the craziness of England”.
She fitted seamlessly into the workforce, immediately changing into the membership’s primary to begin 22 of their 24 league matches final time period.
However it was a disappointing season for PSG as they ended the marketing campaign 10 factors behind Lyon, who additionally beat them within the play-off remaining, whereas they had been additionally knocked out within the second spherical of Champions League qualifying.
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And simply as her journey in Paris was getting began, Earps’ England profession was starting to wind down. Regardless of enjoying usually for her membership, Lionesses boss Wiegman gave extra alternatives to Chelsea keeper Hampton.
When Hampton was handed the beginning spot forward of Euro 2025, Earps described the choice as “unjust” and subsequently introduced her retirement from worldwide soccer simply earlier than the match began.
This time period, PSG discover themselves second within the league, three factors behind Lyon, and head to Manchester in the hunt for a primary Champions League win after shedding to Wolfsburg and Actual Madrid.
Earps has began each sport in each competitions, conceding 15 objectives in 9 matches – together with six within the 6-1 defeat by Lyon.
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PSG head coach Paulo Cesar has “no doubts in any way” Earps is able to tackle her former membership, regardless of the furore surrounding her ebook.
“She is totally prepared for the sport,” he mentioned. “Has there been an impression on her as an individual? I can not see it.
“If there’s something within the dressing room, it hasn’t filtered via to me and I see her each day.”
PSG defender Olga Carmona added all her team-mates had “an excessive amount of confidence” within the keeper, who was capped 53 instances by England.
“It is a pleasure to play with Mary, I am very fortunate to be in the identical workforce as her. It creates security and safety all of us want on the again.
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“As a defender, we now have excellent communication between us. I worth her successful mentality and we see it within the matches she performs.”
