Manchester United's hopes of securing Women's Champions League football for next season are now out of their hands after a 0-0 draw with Tottenham in the Women's Super League on Sunday. The result leaves United third in the table with two games remaining, but Arsenal — one point behind in fourth — have three matches in hand. With a final-day trip to second-placed Chelsea looming, Marc Skinner's side cannot control their own fate.
Pressure mounts on Skinner
Skinner, who signed a contract extension in April 2025 running until 2027 with an option for a further year, faces growing scrutiny from fans frustrated by inconsistent performances and squad management. While he led United to their first major trophy — the FA Cup in 2024 — and guided the side to the Champions League quarter-finals in their debut campaign, criticism has mounted over rotation policies, limited use of academy players, and high-profile departures.
The manager has also been thrust into the spotlight as the public face of the women’s team during controversies, including responding to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments on the WSL side and addressing transfer window frustrations. Despite these challenges, club sources indicate no internal discussions have taken place about Skinner’s future, with the board broadly satisfied given available resources.
On-field struggles and squad depth
United’s lack of squad depth has been a major issue, particularly in the second half of the season as they competed across multiple competitions. Their failure to strengthen in January took its toll, with performances declining under fixture congestion. The team’s league campaign has fallen short of pre-season targets to finish in the top three, be competitive in Europe, and challenge for a domestic trophy.
While United reached the League Cup final, their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea — despite 15 shots — highlighted inefficiency in attack. They failed to register a shot on target in a 3-0 loss to Manchester City earlier in the season, despite 60% possession. Against top-three rivals, United have scored just six goals in nine WSL games under Skinner versus Chelsea, and conceded 26, 21, and 15 goals to Chelsea, City, and Arsenal respectively.
Defensive resilience and individual performances
Despite struggles against elite opposition, United have shown resilience. They have not dropped points from winning positions this season and have clawed back eight points when trailing. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce has kept seven clean sheets — tied for most in the league — and boasts a 77.1% save percentage over the past two seasons. Defenders Maya Le Tissier and Dominique Janssen rank in the WSL’s top five for total passes made in 2025-26.
Are United underachieving?
Debate continues over whether United should be challenging for the title. Only four clubs — Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool — have ever won the WSL, with Chelsea claiming the last six consecutive titles. Before United’s second-place finish in 2023, no team outside the top three had reached the summit in eight years.
Formed as a professional side in 2018, United are still building. However, recruitment has not matched ambitions, and Ratcliffe’s perceived lack of investment has fuelled concerns the women’s team is not a priority. If significant backing arrives this summer as Skinner has requested, expectations will rise sharply for 2025-26.
Media tensions and future outlook
Tensions flared after the Tottenham draw when club representatives barred The Athletic from questioning Skinner in the post-match media huddle — a move reminiscent of Sir Alex Ferguson’s BBC boycott in 2004. While controversial, such actions are unlikely to impact Skinner’s standing internally.
European progress and the League Cup final appearance are viewed as positive steps. For now, Skinner remains in position, but failure to secure Champions League qualification would mark a significant setback in United’s development under his leadership.