Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter analyses the big talking points from the second round of Women's Super League matches, bringing you closer to the key stories at the heart of the women's game. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Manchester United had a watershed moment under Marc Skinner. After winning their first major trophy in 2024, the former boss steered them to the quarter-final stage of the Champions League in their first ever European appearance.
All signs pointed toward progress. A position to kick on from. But the reality is quite different now.
Man Utd are rock bottom of the Women's Super League, with a worse goal difference than newly promoted Charlton. After years of steady building, this is a side in obvious decline. Man Utd are currently on their longest winless run in the league since reforming in 2018 (six matches).
Both of their opening two performances, an admittedly small pool to draw from, have highlighted major causes for concern. Two bruising results for new manager Eva Olid so early in her tenure piles immediate pressure on her position. That is not to say the difficulty of United's predicament is her fault.
She has inherited this squad and the issues run far deeper than two poor performances. "I don't like the heads down," she reflected after being hammered 5-0 by Chelsea. "Heads up and we have to continue." Her stance must be defiant from here.
But she has a right to question her backing. Perhaps, internally, those conversations have or are already taking place. United's lack of confidence on the pitch appears to perfectly mirror the club's diffidence around their women's programme more broadly.
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