Manchester United maintained an unbeaten start to the 2024/25 season following a 1-1 draw against Women’s Super League rivals Arsenal at Leigh Sports Village.

The deadlock was broken for Arsenal by Alessia Russo with just over an hour played, but a big United push to avoid defeat saw Melvine Malard score off the bench against the Gunners at LSV for the second year running inside the final 10 minutes.

It was a day of milestones for the Reds, with Millie Turner making her 150th appearance for the club and Marc Skinner managing his 100th game – each was presented a commemorative shirt by United sporting director Dan Ashworth at pitch-side before kick-off. There was also a club record crowd for a United Women fixture at Leigh Sports Village, with 8,348 in attendance.

FIRST HALF

United made a bright start with some early crosses into the box. Ella Toone also registered a low shot on target that was gathered by Daphne van Domselaar in the Arsenal goal. But the visitors responded with their own spell of pressure soon after and Russo twice narrowly missed the target with powerful strikes, the second deflected over by an excellent Turner block.

Turner also knocked away a Steph Catley header just in front of the goal-line as Arsenal threatened from a corner. But United dug in defensively to weather the storm and it was a more even finish to the opening 45 as both goalkeepers were called into action before the break.

Elisabeth Terland was well placed to meet Celin Bizet’s cross for a header that was well held by Van Domselaar, but it served to raise the volume inside LSV. At the other end, Phallon Tullis-Joyce grasped the ball as it popped up off Caitlin Foord as she arrived onto an in-swinging delivery towards the far post.

SECOND HALF

Both managers made substitutions at half-time looking into fashion an advantage, with Simi Awujo replacing Lisa Naalsund in red and Beth Mead brought on in an attacking reshuffle for Arsenal.

Tullis-Joyce was equal to a close-range Russo header as the Gunners quickly created the first chance after the restart. Our no.91 soon dived to her left as Lia Walti’s strike clipped the outside of the post.

Skinner went for a further double change after an hour as Malard, who made her WSL debut in this fixture last season, and Jayde Riviere entered the fray. But Arsenal were then suddenly ahead when Russo broke free in the box and was there to finish Emily Fox’s cut-back from the right.

Geyse made her return from a recent injury alongside Rachel Williams in a final roll of the dice as the Reds searched for an equaliser. And it was those subs, along with another, who got United back level.

The former’s driving run down the right flank won the Reds a corner, with Williams rising highest in the box to meet the subsequent delivery. Malard was then in the right place at the right time to divert the ball beyond Van Domselaar in a crowded six-yard box to make Leigh Sports Village erupt. Both sides made final pushes for a winning goal during a tense six minutes of added time, with Malard coming up big defensively to deflect a Walti drive over the bar with the last kick of the game. In the end it was a point each.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Tullis-Joyce; Mannion (Riviere 61), Le Tissier (c), Turner, George; Naalsund (Awujo 46), Janssen; Bizet (Williams 77), Toone (Malard 61), Clinton; Terland (Geyse 77).

Unused substitutes: Middleton-Patel, Ladd, Miyazawa, Watson.

Goal: Malard 82.

Booked: Turner 57.

Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Walti, Little (c) (Cooney-Cross 87); Caldentey (Kafaji 87), Maanum (Mead 46), Foord (Hurtig 87); Russo (Blackstenius 78).

Unused substitutes: Zinsberger, Codina, Reid, Kuhl.

Goal: Russo 63.

Booked: Little 10, McCabe 87.

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Ruud van Nistelrooy has selected his Manchester United side to take on Chelsea in today’s 16:30 GMT kick-off.

It’s the Dutchman’s first Premier League game as interim head coach, following on from Wednesday night’s 5-2 success over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup.

The Reds’ line-up includes three changes from that win against the Foxes, as Andre Onana returns in goal.

The Cameroon international was rested in midweek, with Altay Bayindir playing in his stead, but Onana maintains his 100 per cent top-flight appearance record for the Reds today.

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Noussair Mazraoui is in for Victor Lindelof in defence, which suggests that Lisandro Martinez will play centrally after filling in at left-back against Steve Cooper’s side.

Rasmus Hojlund comes into the side in place of Joshua Zirkzee and will lead the line.

Today’s visitors have completely changed their team, after Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle, as Enzo Maresca continues to separate his squad for league and cup games.

TODAY’S TEAMS

United: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Casemiro; Rashford, Fernandes (c), Garnacho; Hojlund.

Substitutes: Bayindir, Lindelof, Evans, Amass, J. Fletcher, Fitzgerald, Zirkzee, Amad, Wheatley.

Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Colwill, Fofana, James (c); Caicedo, Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.

Substitutes: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Tosin, Cucurella, Veiga, Fernandez, Felix, Mudryk, Nkunku.

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Diogo Dalot believes Manchester United and our new head coach Ruben Amorim will form ‘a perfect match’.

Although the full-back has not worked with his compatriot before, he’s heard plenty of positive things from his peers in the Portugal team who are more familiar with the Sporting boss.

Amorim has won two top-flight titles with the Lions and, since his appointment in March 2020, the Lisbon club boast the highest winning percentage of any club in Europe’s top 10 leagues.

Dalot hopes that the impact the 39-year-old has had at the Estadio Jose Alvalade can transfer to Manchester and boost our quest to return to the pinnacle of English and European football.

“Personally I don’t know him,” Dalot told the Premier League.

“What I know is from what I see, from what I get from my national team team-mates. He’s obviously a fantastic coach, with a young mentality, but at the same time he knows what he wants.

“He’s very demanding – that’s what I can expect and I think that’s the perfect match for a club like this.

“The standards are really high. He is a person that you can see has really high standards and he stands by them, so I hope that can be a really good match and that we can win together.

“That’s what I hope the most.”

If Amorim can make half the impression Jose Mourinho did in England, he will be a resounding success and our new boss spent time learning from his predecessor at Carrington in 2018.

For such a small country, Portugal has real coaching pedigree at top-flight level, even beyond the obvious achievements of Mourinho with Porto, Chelsea and Internazionale, among others.

Fulham and Nottingham Forest are currently punching above their weight under the stewardships of Marco Silva and Nuno Espirito Santo, and Dalot believes Amorim can continue that trend.

“Yes, I think the Premier League really suits obviously people from Portugal,” Diogo added.

“We have this culture of constantly trying to prove ourselves and trying to fight for a place because we come from a small country.

“It’s been all over the years, Portuguese managers and players coming to the Premier League and coming to England and being successful.

“So I really hope it’s one more case and I’m really excited to start working with him.”

Amorim also has past managerial experience with Casa Pia and Braga, to whom Sporting paid a significant fee to release him from his contract in 2020.

Dalot appreciates United is another step entirely as Amorim leaves his homeland for the first time in his coaching career, but highlights that everyone will be pulling in the same direction to aid our new appointment in his mission.

“It’s obviously different. He comes from a big club in Portugal. I will say that he almost quadruples the amount of exposure, the intensity, the pressure [here], but in Sporting he was more than able to deal with it.

“We are here obviously and we’re going to be a team. Players, staff, managers, board, directors: we’re going to be a team.

“We have to work with each other, I’m sure we will help him in some way and he will help us back.”

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Garnacho makes a vow to supporters

Alejandro Garnacho believes his game is all about being daring and direct, as he looks to help Manchester United climb the Premier League table.

Ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Chelsea at Old Trafford, the Academy graduate was asked by United Review, our official matchday programme, what it feels like to perform on such a stage, in front of the Reds supporters.

Quickly adapting to the Theatre of Dreams, even during his days in the Under-18s, the Argentina winger accepts that he is looking to continually improve after reaching the landmark of 100 senior games for the club in the defeat to West Ham United.

“I have always been this type of player,” he told United Review. “To be daring, to always try and try again and, if it doesn’t work, try again and never give up. That’s just who I am as a footballer and, in the future, I want to continue to reach my potential.

“I always try to do the best I can. Sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn’t, but I always try to do the best for the team. Sometimes, it’s best to dribble. Other times, it’s best to cross. It depends on the situation but I always try to contribute the best I can and say, at the end of the game, that I have done everything possible.”

Garnacho’s self confidence is such an important asset for any winger, tasked with the responsibility of taking on opponents and making things happen.

“As a kid, I have always been this type of person,” he explained. “Not just as a player but as a person. I have never been scared of anything and never get nervous – even if I play well or badly. So this is another point in my favour when playing, so yeah, I have always been like this.

“The only time I got a little bit nervous was when I entered the field of play for the FA Youth Cup final. The stadium was completely full and it was the first time I had experienced this. But, after that point, I’ve not felt that pressure again and I love playing at home with our fans.” 

Garnacho believes his luck will change in front of goal, and he will be looking to breach the visiting defence during the visit of Enzo Maresca’s Blues on Sunday.

“That’s what I like about who I am as a player,” he added. “I always try to create opportunities, in one way or another. Sometimes you score, sometimes it is bad luck, sometimes it’s a bad finish but the important thing is I am still young and I am going to improve and, over the years, things will come off.”

Read the big interview with Alejandro Garnacho in full in Sunday’s United Review, the official matchday programme.

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Ruud van Nistelrooy has reiterated that his focus is on doing his best to help the club in his current capacity as interim head coach.

The former United striker is in temporary charge until Ruben Amorim takes over the reins on 11 November, following the departure of Erik ten Hag.

Ruud was in the dugout for Wednesday’s 5-2 win over Leicester in the Carabao Cup and has been preparing the Reds for Sunday’s tough Premier League assignment against Chelsea (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

Speaking ahead of the Blues’ visit to M16, Van Nistelrooy fielded questions from the media at Carrington and, in the second part of the briefing, was asked about his future, Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee and former United players who are now pundits.

Scroll down to have a read, and watch, what he had to say below…

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Ruud, I know you’ve said the immediate job is you’re looking at this and then you’re going to go back to your contract as assistant. Long term, what’s the career plan for you? Would you want to be a manager again at some stage in the future?
“That’s a good question actually. Obviously, I think this would be the only job I would take as an assistant because of everything I’ve just explained. And for two years, for me it was important to get a feel of how it was going over the course of two years and, after that, to make a decision. Is this something that is fulfilling for me in my job? I have to say, for the moment, I really enjoyed the role. I really did.”  

As an assistant?
“As an assistant.”  

Just because it’s here rather than an assistant?
“Obviously, the decision to make for Man United was a big one and that’s why I’m in this role and I can commit myself to the role as assistant manager. I did it with great pride and I really enjoyed it and I will enjoy it again after this. After two years, I have to see how things go.”

In that respect, all the players now will have a three-game early shop window to prove to the incoming manager that they should be part of his first-team thinking or his first-XI thinking. Does that go for you as well in some respects? You too are almost in the shop window to say: ‘Look, every manager brings in their backroom team, stick with me, the one that you’ve got.’ I know you’ve got a contract, but we’ve seen that things can change…
“Obviously, it can change. We all know that. But we’ll see. I’m not thinking in that way, I’m not here to prove myself in that way. I’m here to help. I’m here to do the best I can. The club is the most important one and do the best we can to get a result on Sunday. That’s my focus. All the other things are not in my mind.”  

Can I ask you about Manuel Ugarte? Can you explain why you think the club signed him and why he maybe hasn’t had that many chances yet this season? Also, with your history, has he got the ego to succeed at Manchester United where the pressure is so big?
“I’m convinced about Manuel that he will be a great player for United. I think yesterday he had a very good performance, against Fenerbahce he had a good performance. Getting players in an early conclusion, players that are here for two or three months, you should be careful with that I think. It’s a great signing, very good player, professional, he has very specific qualities in midfield, gets in between players, can recover a lot of balls for us to get us in attacking positions. Also, on the ball, very decent so I think he will be a very good player for this club.”  

People are putting two and two together because he played with Amorim, but is he someone you and Erik specifically targeted and wanted here anyway?
“The recruitment is not part of the assistant manager, but I can comment on working with Manuel on a daily basis. He’s adjusting, he wants to adjust, he wants to be part of this club, do well and he’s very motivated to do so. He’s getting better every time, the performance yesterday was good and he can build on that. We are very thin in midfield, the coming games, we’re going to definitely need him and I think he’ll do well in the coming games.”

You weren’t a bad striker yourself, what do you think about Joshua Zirkzee at the moment? What do you think his strengths are and what do you think are the areas he needs to improve in?
“Josh is similar to Manuel Ugarte’s situation. Josh came in, he’s a young player with a lot of potential. He’s a typical number nine in the sense of his hold-up play is very good, he’s very strong in the combination play, he’s a different type than Rasmus. Rasmus is more of a nine that plays higher up on the pitch, getting in the back of defenders and Josh is more the one coming to the ball and getting the team playing. The Crystal Palace game, he was excellent, it was one of his best performances and showed his potential. Another one with a lot of talent. A good age, a lot of potential to develop, look after, give him time, he will get better and better and better, and I think also will be a very good player for this club.”  

You probably know better than anyone else in this room from your time here that the noise around United is deafening at the best of times, let alone when they’re changing managers et cetera. Also, you have the issue that in the media, you have many high-profile players that you’ve played with: Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves. All these guys have an opinion on the club and sometimes that’s a painful opinion. As a manager coming into this club, do you think that’s fair they should be under that scrutiny from ex-players that have been successful? Secondly, are you prepared for those guys that you played with to give you a kicking on Sunday if you lose to Chelsea?
“We all do our jobs, don’t we? I think, basically, they care for the club and want the club to do well and they’re disappointed as well that it doesn’t go well with the club. I think it’s absolutely fine and I don’t take it personal. When I see them, I have a cup of coffee with them and I don’t have any problems with that. I appreciate them as former colleagues, some of them I’m still in touch with and that’s the path they choose. Others stay in football more on the football side, so for me it’s absolutely fine.”  

If they were to turn their attentions to you on Sunday, would that be a problem?
“In the end, you’re going to be judged and I think yesterday was good, very positive, we got positive critics and everybody’s positive. In football, things can change, things can continue, I don’t believe the hype that much, I don’t believe the drama that much, I know it’s the world we live in. For me, it’s important to stay calm, stay focused, do my job on a daily basis. I think that also has to be the case for this club, we’re not going to turn it around from today to tomorrow, but we’re going to get it done, and I believe in that over the longer future.”

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Manchester United’s Under-21s endured a difficult day on the road, after ending on the wrong side of an entertaining seven-goal encounter with Sunderland.

Travis Binnion’s charges have had a busy schedule of late, with five games across the Professional Development Phase (U17-U21) in the last 11 days, including two European tests – the most recent a 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.

And there was little time to rest in the north-east three days on, with the hosts taking an early lead. Adil Aouchiche, stepping down from first-team level, finished excellently from the area’s edge after a good corner routine three minutes in. Sunderland captain Ben Middlemass struck the crossbar from long range soon after.

United hit back quickly, though, through Jack Fletcher – one of three players in the squad who were in the senior matchday squad for the midweek triumph over Leicester City. The others were Harry Amass and Ethan Wheatley. Fletcher finished well after United won the ball back high up.

The Black Cats restored their lead after 23 minutes when Timor Tutierov’s teasing cross was inadvertently turned home by United right-back Habeeb Ogunneye, who had a striker breathing down his neck ready to pounce.

A late flurry of goals arrived before the break, the first being a third for Sunderland as Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi converted Jewison Bennette’s cross. United responded through Gabriele Biancheri, set up by the first goalscorer Fletcher, after an excellent team move also involving Sam Mather. And Fletcher nearly equalised when shooting over the crossbar, but instead another for the hosts followed, through Ogunsuyi again. This time the 17-year-old cut inside while bearing down on goal to finish with his left foot from close range.

Just after half-time, during which United made two changes, replacing Fletcher and Amass with Wheatley and Tyler Fredricson, Sunderland found their fifth as Tutierov powered home with his right foot from the edge of the box.

United sought a way back into the game and forced Sunderland to work hard to maintain their advantage. Substitute Ethan Wheatley drew an excellent save from Dan Cameron.

Defeat leaves United with a record of four wins and four losses from eight games thus far this season in Premier League 2. A dozen points has Binnion’s team sat 13th in the 26-team division, which culminates in a 16-team end-of-season knockout competition to determine the ultimate winner.

“They were the better team today,” reviewed Travis Binnion post-match.

“We struggled and got overrun in the first half. We had a few players in different positions because we’re managing minutes for a few players and Sunderland played the game in the right way. They had intensity.

“We played PSV the other night and played well, we did okay at Newcastle last week, but we’ve been found wanting a little bit here.

“We could have come in 3-3 at half-time — we carried a threat — but it would have masked some problems. They were well worth their lead.

“We started the second half really well but we turned the ball over and they went the other end and scored. We had chances after that but 5-2 is a fair reflection of the game.

“I thought Wheatley and Fredricson coming on at half-time did very well, and Sekou Kone was really bright when he came on. Jacob Devaney did well in midfield as well.

“Some of these players are learning on the job and that’s what it’s there for. The U21s level is very different to U18s football when the opposition do it right, when they play with tempo and intensity. Sunderland did that, so credit to them and plenty to learn for our boys today.”

MATCH DETAILS

UNITED: Graczyk; Kamason, Ogunneye, Kingdon, Amass (Fredricson 45); McAllister (Kone 71), Baumann; Sharpe, J. Fletcher (Wheatley 45), Mather (Devaney 60); Biancheri.

Unused subs: Myles.

Goals: J. Fletcher 8, Biancheri 45.

Booked: None.

ELSEWHERE ON SATURDAY

Both of United’s senior Academy sides were away from home on Saturday lunchtime, with the U18s travelling the shorter distance to Leeds United for another midday kick-off.

The reigning English champions were seeking an eighth win from as many games to open their league campaign and found it in style. Goals from James Scanlon, Bendito Mantato, Victor Musa and Amir Ibragimov had the young Reds four goals ahead by the break. Ibragimov and Scanlon scored a further two apiece to complete their hat-tricks and ensure the second half was equally dominant.

Adam Lawrence’s side have now scored 40 goals in eight league games, conceding only four. You can watch the highlights from their match at Leeds below. U21s highlights will follow later.

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Manchester United’s Under-18s have again extended our unbeaten record in the U18 Premier League North with an 8-0 win away at Leeds United.

The Reds were off the mark early in the first half courtesy of James Scanlon, before Bendito Mantato, Victor Musa and Amir Ibragimov contributed to a four-goal advantage at the midway point.

Another two goals each from Scanlon and Ibragimov after the break, sealing hat-tricks for the pair in the process, topped off another assured Saturday afternoon display for Adam Lawrence’s side.

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The young Reds got off to a good start thanks to Scanlon, who studiously watched the ball drop out of the sky from goalkeeper Owen Grainger’s punch before hitting a driven volley into the bottom-right corner to open the scoring in the 10th minute.

Scanlon then turned provider on the half-hour mark, zipping a ball across the six-yard box for Mantato to poke home at the back post, despite heavy pressure from Leeds defender Joe Billett.

Mantato was back causing problems in the opposition box less than 10 minutes later, this time tempting Josh Hamilton to shove him off the ball and earning the Reds a penalty. Victor Musa shouldered the responsibility, calmly converting the spotkick and sending Grainger the wrong way in the process.

Ibragimov rounded off the half’s action just over five minutes from the break, cleverly losing his marker from a corner and before nodding home an inviting delivery from Jim Thwaites.

Scanlon started the second half just how he began the first. Musa seized possession high up the pitch and quickly laid the ball off to our no.11, who curled in an effort from a tight angle just two minutes after the restart.

Substitute Chido Obi-Martin, introduced on the hour mark, quickly set about teeing up Ibragimov’s second, evading his marker before invitingly fizzing the ball across the line for the midfielder to confirm our sixth.

Minutes later, Ibragimov was back among the action, benefitting from another substitute’s delivery in Samuel Lusale, helpfully tipped on by Grainger, before falling to our no.10 to slot home at the back post, sealing United’s seventh and his own hat-trick in the process.

Not content with just one Red taking home the match ball from the trip, Scanlon popped up seconds later to turn home the rebound of another Obi-Martin effort, registering a hat-trick of his own with the young Reds’ final goal of the day.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Byrne-Hughes; Munro (Plunkett 75), Mills, Armer, Kukonki; Thwaites (Bailey 61), T.Fletcher; Mantato (Lusale 61), Ibragimov, Scanlon; Musa (Obi-Martin 61).

Subs not used: Murdock.

Goals: Scanlon 10, 47, 75, Mantato 29, Musa 35 (pen), Ibragimov 39, 67, 74.

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