Manchester United’s FA Cup success can give them extra drive against Chelsea says Naalsund | OneFootball

Manchester United midfielder Lisa Naalsund says that last season’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup success can give the team extra drive when they face Chelsea in this season’s final.

The Red Devils take on The Blues at Wembley on Sunday afternoon. Manchester United won the competition for the very first time last season, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the final.

When speaking to WSL Full-Time ahead of this season’s showpiece, Manchester United midfielder Naalsund said that the team can take motivation from their Wembley success a year ago.

“It’s good that we have experienced both ends of it at Wembley, we’ve won one and lost one,” Naalsund said. “Obviously, we would like to have won both of those games but it’s good to come in with that experience.

“I do feel like winning it last year makes us go into this game with a good feeling. I feel like it’ll help remind us about last year and it’ll give us a little extra drive.”

Manchester United have lost both of this season’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixtures against Chelsea by a single goal. Naalsund says that those narrow margins can be bridged with some minor modifications at either end of the pitch.

She said “Chelsea are a very good team and they often win games by getting the small details right like they did against us.

“Having just played them, I feel as though it’s easier for us to learn very quickly for the FA Cup final. It was a set-piece that they scored on, so it’s something that we should fix for the FA Cup final. We also need to score from the chances that we create.

“We have to fix some small details and be ruthless when we create chances because you don’t get many chances when you play a good team like them.”

Naalsund has struggled for minutes at Manchester United this season with an injury also not helping matters. The midfielder says that she will be ready for action if called upon this weekend.

She said “I feel very good fitness-wise, the medical team and fitness team have done a great job with me when I’ve been injured. I do feel that I’m ready for whenever I’m needed.

“I know that everyone has done so great this season, so coming back, I’ve taken up a different role where I know I’m not going to play a lot but I’m trying to contribute to high standards in training every day and trying to be ready for when I’m needed in games. Players can get injuries and it can turn into a game where I’m needed in some way.

“It’s a different role to last year but I’m going to be ready in case I’m needed.”

The 2024/2025 Adobe Women’s FA Cup final takes place at Wembley Stadium at 1.30pm on Sunday afternoon. Tickets remain on-sale and can be purchased by clicking here.