Manchester United midseason report card: Red Devils drop off after promising start | OneFootball

Melvine Malard is Manchester United’s top scorer in the WSL (Jayde Chamberlain/ SPP)

With the Women’s Super League now in its winter break, SheKicks is compiling a midseason report card for each WSL team and next up is Manchester United.

How have Manchester United started the WSL season?

After an excellent start, Manchester United’s form has dropped off in the WSL just before the winter break.

United won five of their opening seven games and held rivals Arsenal and Chelsea to draws.

The Red Devils have also impressed in the Champions League, finishing sixth in the League Phase and will next face Atletico Madrid in the playoffs.

Perhaps it was their participation in the Champions League which affected their league form from November.

United suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at home against Aston Villa, before they were outclassed in a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

They narrowly beat struggling West Ham and were held to a 3-3 draw against Tottenham, where, to their credit, they showed incredible spirit to fight back from three goals down.

This has left United nine points behind Manchester City, when they were just one point behind before their defeat against Aston Villa.

When they return from the winter break, United will face Arsenal in a game that could end their slim hopes of a title challenge.

Manchester United’s WSL results

Manchester United low on numbers

Part of Manchester United’s issue has been their squad depth.

United started the season with a thin squad, which left them unable to fill the bench in certain games.

Marc Skinner has called on United to strengthen their squad during the January transfer window.

He is set to get his wish with United already signing Hanna Lundkvist.

Lundkvist joined the club as a free agent and will offer competition to United right-back Jayde Riviere.

United are also expected to sign Lea Schuller from Bayern Munich. The prolific German forward would bolster United’s attacking ranks for the second half of the season.

How are Manchester United’s summer signings performing?

Jess Park has arguably been the signing of the season in the Women’s Super League.

Park, who joined the club in a move that saw Grace Clinton head to Manchester City, has scored four goals and provided two assists in 11 WSL appearances.

She has scored some vital goals, including the winner in United’s 1-0 Champions League win over Juventus.

Julia Zigiotti Olme has been an unsung hero for Manchester United this campaign, with teammate Ella Toone hailing the midfielder’s impact.

Fridolina Rolfo has also been a positive signing for United. She has six goals and three assists in 18 appearances across all competitions, with three goal contributions in the WSL.

Manchester United WSL midseason report grade: B

Given their lack of depth compared to their rivals, United have done well to be within three points of second-placed Chelsea and Arsenal, who are third.

Therefore, United receive a B grade for their WSL midseason report. However, before their drop-off in form, United could have been on for an A.

Ian Wright has led criticism at Manchester United for leaving the team short in numbers going into this season.

United’s drop-off in form was perhaps unsurprising, but the additions of Schuller and Lundkvist could prove to be a major boost in the second half of the campaign.

Their best chance of silverware this season is likely to be in the League Cup and FA Cup.

WSL midseason report grades so far