Manchester United’s newly reformed women’s team certainly have their work cut out for them this season. New head coach Casey Stoney has a new squad to build from scratch, given that it’s been over a decade since United last had a senior competitive women’s team.
Stoney’s side will begin life in the second tier of English football, more specifically the Women’s Super League 2, and the former England captain has already brought in former Bristol City coach Willie Kirk as an assistant coach.
In her first non-MUTV interview since her appointment earlier this year, Stoney seemed to be under no illusions as to the size of the task that she faces, but appears to be relishing the prospect at the same time.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I absolutely believe that Manchester United have the opportunity to change the face of women’s football,” said Stoney in an interview with Sky Sports.
“It’s the biggest club in the world, and to have a women’s team as part of that is huge.
“But it’s not just having a women’s team for the sake of having a women’s team. This club does things properly.
“We’re not going to run before we can walk. We’re going to do things the right way, take our time. We’ve got to make sure that in five or six years’ time, this is a successful team.”
It’s an especially exciting time for the club, particularly for the girl’s teams up to the age of 17 that haven’t had a route to senior football at United and have been forced to leave the club in search of further opportunities in the women’s game. Stoney has previously pointed to a need to mix youth with experience when it comes to filling out her squad, making this a very exciting time to be involved in United’s set-up.
