It was a stunning maiden Women’s Super League campaign for Casey Stoney’s Manchester United – finishing fourth on a points-per-game basis.
They were behind the league’s Big Three – Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal – each of whom beat them by a single goal in the fixtures they played in a truncated season.
Vice-captain Amy Turner expects the side to do even better in the coming year.
“We knew that we could compete with the top three, but it’s a different thing competing with them and beating them and we didn’t have that last year,” she admitted.
“But now I feel like we’re in a much better place. We’re ready to challenge those teams and I suppose it will come with different challenges.
“Last year we were a newly promoted team, maybe other teams didn’t know too much about us so it’s about being adaptable and kicking on and showing what we’re capable of.”
They begin with the toughest test of all – facing champions Chelsea in their opener on Sunday September 6.
New signings
Germany's Ivana Fuso has headed to England for the first time. The 19-year-old forward signed from Swiss side FC Basel, where she averaged a goal a game.
Spanish full back Ona Batlle also signed for the club this summer following two years at Levante. At international level she was part of the junior squads that won the 2015 Under-17 European Championships and the 2017 Under-19 European Championships, and was named in the team of the tournament for the latter.
Key player
Captain Katie Zelem is the key element to United's success. She took the armband after Alex Greenwood's departure to Lyon last season, the pinnacle so far of a United career that began in childhood when she progressed through the club's centre of excellence. With no women's team to join, though, she was forced across the north-west to Liverpool in 2013, spending four years there. She ventured overseas to Juventus in 2017, helping them to the Serie A final - and returned home to Manchester United when they were awarded their licence to compete in the FA Women's Championship in 2018/19. As a player, she controls the midfield and can surprise defences with a set piece or long-range piece of brilliance.
Strengths
Watching the Reds guarantees goals. They have the experience of Jess Sigsworth and Jane Ross - who made the move over from the Blue side of the city - along with the youthful zest of the likes of teenagers Fuso and Lauren James, plus Young Lioness Ella Toone.
Weaknesses
Stoney has put together an immensely talented team but it lacks a little top-flight experience. She added Lionesses Lucy Staniforth and Mary Earps to the squad along with Dutch international Jackie Groenen to combat that issue - this forthcoming campaign will demonstrate just how well they gel.
Prediction
Fourth place seems a reasonable expectation. Skipper Zelem expects at least that – and hopefully more.
“Some new players have come in and fitted in brilliantly with the squad,” she said. “We needed some new additions to strengthen our team and bring us a bit more strength in depth and that’s exactly what they’ve done.
“We’ve had some really good friendly games leading up to the Chelsea game so our pre-season has gone really well and we’ve been able to work on things we wanted, so now we’re just so excited.”
