Why Marc Skinner says these Manchester United players have the “quality of an artist” | OneFootball

Fridolina Rolfo (Instagram)

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner enthused about the adaptability and versatility of new signings Fridolina Rolfo and Julia Zigiotti Olme after his team’s 2-0 win over Liverpool.

In fact, he went so far as to say the pair both have the “quality of an artist”, showcased in the victory that took them briefly to the top of the Women’s Super League table on Sunday – but now sees them second, just behind defending champions Chelsea.

Explaining that left back Anna Sandberg had pulled out of the matchday squad due to illness, requiring a last-minute rejig of the line-up, he said that Rolfo and Zigiotti Olme would play wherever the team required them.

“They bring just a calmness and a quality of an artist that knows exactly what they’re doing and that for us gives us that balance,” he told United’s official website.

And of another new arrival, Jess Park, who joined the club from rivals Manchester City, he said: “Jess gives us something different, just that creativity, the space finding. She doesn’t have to be rigid in one position, she can move across the field. It makes us more fluid.”

Manchester United boss Skinner: Miyazawa’s goal was beautiful

Skinner was unsurprisingly very pleased with the quality of Hinata Miyazawa’s strike from the edge of the box, which put United a goal up less than five minutes into the match, describing it as “beautiful”.

“It’s one of those goals you really want to watch technically. She hit one against Brighton last year from the edge of the area, but for her to run and strike on her weaker foot, even though I don’t think she has that much of a weaker foot. It’s just beautiful. I want her to watch that back because we want more goals from her.”

And he said that he hoped Miyazawa and Zigliotte Olme could form a fine understanding over the course of the season in the centre of the park, allowing the team to play in a much more creative way.

“The relationship, we have to get to a point with our midfielders where it becomes instinctive – and right now it’s verging on that, because they’re playing together, they’re understanding each other’s habits, how they want the ball, how they want to move and how they defend and cover.”

Manchester United’s next match is on Friday, 3rd October, when they host Chelsea in what will be an early test of their true title credentials.