Man Utd Women’s boss says WSL game postponement is ‘right decision’ whilst sympathising with fans
MARC SKINNER insists postponing Chelsea’s WSL clash with Manchester United was the right move in terms of player welfare.
However, the Red Devils chief also sympathised with fans who planned to attend the match with United thought to have sold all their away tickets.
Skinner, whose team host Liverpool tomorrow in a Women’s League Cup group stage game, was reflecting on his side’s top-flight away clash with the Blues being temporarily shelved.
The highly anticipated fixture was due to take place on Sunday October 6, but was postponed by the Women’s Professional League Limited last Sunday.
The decision was motivated by Chelsea’s opening Women’s Champions League group game being pencilled in two nights later, with the team having 48 hours between the duels.
And the WPLL (previously known as NewCo), which runs the top two tiers of the women’s domestic game, stated they were putting “player welfare first”.
This follows concern across the sport, particularly from elite footballers themselves, around match congestion, its effect on player loads and the potential for increased risk of injury.
Man United boss Skinner said: “For me most importantly it’s affected the fans, which is something we clearly don’t want to happen.
“But I think from a playing perspective, for both Chelsea welfare and our welfare players-wise, it’s the right decision, because the game is not going to be moved from the Champions League.
“We don’t want any more injuries. We’ve seen Everton potentially take an injury again at the weekend.
“We don’t want that. So I think from a player welfare (perspective), it’s the right thing.”
According to BBC Sport, the WPLL had asked that no English sides had their Women’s Champions Leagues arranged for Tuesday 8 October.
However, the organisation’s request was unsuccessful.
And Uefa are said to have made their schedule for tournament fixtures available to clubs over a year ago.
Following the WSL game postponement ahead of their side’s first European match this term, a Blues fan association said the club had to protect its players.
The Chelsea Women’s Supporters Group also sympathised with fans who had forked out on travel and hotel bookings ahead of the Kingsmeadow clash.
In a post shared via its X account, the Group wrote: “We feel for all the supporters who have lost money on transport and hotels.
“It shouldn’t have got to this situation.”
The Manchester United Women’s Supporters Club says it is currently “in dialogue in regard to next course of action” with Red Devils officials in regard to costs incurred by away fans.
Skinner said: “Wherever we fit the game in, let’s make sure it’s accessible to the fans and that they are well looked-after. That’s the most important thing.
“I think it was sold out, our end, the away end. So we just need to make sure it favours them as well, I think that’s really key.
“But the reality is, for the quick turnaround, which would have been for us or for Chelsea.
“It would have put the players at risk and I don’t think we need to do that this early in the season.”
United’s League Cup duel with Liverpool tomorrow will see them begin their quest to win the contest a season on from lifting the Women’s FA Cup for the first time.
And Skinner says the competition is a top priority for the Red Devils who missed out on a knockout spot last season.
This was due to their group stage rival Aston Villa being docked points which were awarded to Sunderland.
The Man United boss added: “I felt last year, we were very, very unfortunate to not progress to the knockout stages.
“Not only did we have a very difficult group, we were then unfortunate that a decision is made elsewhere that affects us and we can’t go through.
“It’s a priority for us, it’s an opportunity to win a cup, but it’s also an opportunity for players to show and claim their stake for starting.
“We need a competitive game, a competitive team, a competitive environment.”