Ian Wright calls out Man Utd & INEOS for ‘not caring enough’ about women’s team and criticises head coach Marc Skinner’s ‘David Brent-ish’ interview

Over the past year, United’s women’s team have been moved out of their training facilities to accommodate the men’s side, and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said the project was a “work in progress”. Now, former Arsenal forward Wright has laid into the Red Devils and also women’s coach Skinner for his post-match interview following their goalless draw with Aston Villa. The coach had complained that he is working with a “new team” as he responded to criticism from fans, but Wright added the way Skinner carried himself was reminiscent of David Brent – a character played by Ricky Gervais in The Office.

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  WHAT IAN WRIGHT SAID

  He said on women’s football podcast Crossways: “When you hear murmurings of Man United saying ‘once we sort out the men’s, we’re gonna focus on the women’s’ – when is that going to be? You look at the men’s and how far they are off it at the minute. When are they actually going to take notice of the women’s? I genuinely believe, especially with how Man United Women are playing, they do not care. They genuinely do not care enough.”

  Wright added on Skinner: “Unfortunately for him, the interview he did the other day didn’t stand him in good stead. What he’s saying, in respect of new players, the team gelling – he’s had this team for long enough now where they should be doing a lot better. You talk about the four new players, [Celin] Bizet – she’s played in the WSL before, [Dominque] Janssen has been there before, [Elisabeth] Terland and then Grace Clinton who had to go to Tottenham to get herself better and in the England squad. You listen to that interview, no plan B, no real structure of what they’re doing. They were playing against a Villa side that were bottom of the league and he’s talking about they got a good result – at home. This is why I was quite pleased to see Man United fans pull him up about that interview and how David Brent-ish it was for me.”

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    After a strong start to the season, where they won three games in a row, United have drawn their last three fixtures and are seven points behind Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City – although they do have a game in hand. Skinner was under pressure to keep his job for much of last season but their FA Cup triumph kept him in the job. If results turn, however, he may be given the boot.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    Skinner’s United side, who sit fifth in the WSL, will hope to return to winning ways away at eighth-placed Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.