Manchester United Women skipper Maya Le Tissier appreciates the strength of Barclays WSL champions Chelsea but is convinced they are beatable.

The west Londoners top the table again at this early stage of the campaign and have a 100 per cent record going into tonight’s encounter (Friday).

The Blues have also won 10 of the 11 WSL meetings with United but our own positive start has instilled confidence that we can take three points at our Progress With Unity Stadium home.

Writing exclusively for the matchday programme, Maya said: “To play under the lights in Leigh always feels special, and it certainly will this evening with Chelsea here. We always know Chelsea will bring a challenge but we also know we are up for that fight.

“I’m really pleased with how we’ve started the season. We are showing our strengths out on the pitch and our togetherness off it. The games are coming thick and fast now but it is what we have been working towards and now we are ready.

“We come into this game off the back of a 2-0 win away to Liverpool. We had mixed feelings after the game because we were happy with the three points and the clean sheet but we felt we could have performed better in the second half. What is important in those moments is that we still pushed through to victory but we all took the time to evaluate where we can improve going forwards.

“Chelsea have, once again, started the season strongly. As the current champions, they are one of the toughest sides we are going to face this season.

“But we believe we can beat anyone, and as long as we stick to our game-plan and use all our training, I know we will give them a good match. Our home stadium is special and that is because you fans make it so. We hope to hear you loudly all night.

“Your passion and commitment always gives us that extra edge we need and we will need that once again. I look forward to hearing you all!”

Printed copies of the official programme, which includes an interview with Phallon Tullis-Joyce, are available in Leigh, priced at £3.

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Congratulations to Elisabeth Terland, who has been crowned Manchester United Women’s Player of the Month, for the second time this season.

Terland clinched August’s prize – sponsored by Estee Lauder – after her goals helped United progress in Europe, and it was more of the same for the Norwegian in September.

The Reds forward bagged a hat-trick to turn the tie around against former club Brann and secure our place in the league phase of the Champions League.

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Our no.10 now has eight goals to her name this term, with seven of them arriving in continental competition.

She also netted in the Barclays WSL opener against Leicester City, and has provided two assists for Ella Toone, as she continues to be dedicated to the collective cause.

“I’m a loyal player and I work hard for the team,” said Teri, after the Brann second leg.

“When you have team-mates like you have on this team, you want to do everything for them, and you know they’ll do the same for you.”

Due to United’s strong start, Teri had to see off some stiff competition, particularly from strike partner Melvine Malard.

The WSL’s leading scorer came second in the voting, with 27 per cent, to Teri’s 42%.

Jess Park and Jayde Riviere were also among the goals during September, during the 5-1 success at London City Lionesses, and they finished third and fourth respectively.

Congratulations to Teri!

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Hinata Miyazawa has won Manchester United Women’s Goal of the Month for September, after topping a fan poll in the club app.

The Japan international’s strike was worthy of gracing any game, but proved particularly enjoyable as it set us on the way to victory at rivals Liverpool.

Hini met a loose ball, first time, on the edge of the area, steering her shot in off the post and leaving the Merseysiders’ keeper Rafaela Borggrafe completely stationary as she watched it nestle in the net.

It was our popular no.20’s maiden strike of the season, and only her third in total since joining in 2023, making it particularly special.

With our Reds scoring 14 times across a positive month, fans were spoilt for choice as they selected from the seven-goal shortlist.

Ella Toone’s game settler in St Helens was also well-favoured, scoring 23 per cent of the vote.

Jayde Riviere was a common choice too, as her cross-cum-shot at London City Lionesses received 13 per cent.

But, perhaps boosted by her wholesome post-match interview with Dominique Janssen and MUTV’s Ben Ibson, Miyazawa raced away, ending up on 38 per cent.

Congratulations again to Hini, and keep your eyes peeled for when we announce the winner of the Player of the Month vote, on Friday morning.

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Regis Le Bris accepts that Amad is still well liked at Sunderland, but admits he will not be the Wearsiders’ friend for 90 minutes on Saturday.

The Manchester United man enjoyed a superb spell on loan with the Black Cats in the Championship in 2022/23, as they also played a key role in his development.

Although they reached the semi-finals of the play-offs during his stint, Tony Mowbray’s side missed out on promotion. However, they did go up last summer, thanks to a dramatic victory against Sheffield United in May.

Amad was in attendance at the Stadium of Light for the game, against Coventry City, that enabled his former club to reach Wembley for that final, and he is clearly still appreciated and admired by the north-east club’s supporters and personnel.

Amad scored this belter for Sunderland against Luton Town.

The Ivory Coast international’s possible involvement in Saturday’s 15:00 BST kick-off is an interesting sub-plot ahead of the match.

He was granted compassionate leave and missed the disappointing 3-1 defeat at Brentford last weekend but has returned to training and could be an option again for head coach Ruben Amorim, either at right wing-back or in one of the no.10 roles.

Although Amad would surely enjoy a warm reception from the away end at Old Trafford, Le Bris said at his pre-match press conference that, despite the affection for the popular 23-year-old, this would obviously be forgotten over the course of the Premier League fixture.

“His spell here was really important,” said the current Sunderland boss, who joined in 2024, after had Amad impressed on loan.

“The coaching staff likes him – as a person and as a player – so both.

“Now he is in the opponents. He plays with the opponents. He will be an opponent.

“So it will be great to say hello but, during the game, he won’t be a friend.”

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Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu explains meaning of his name

Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu has explained the poignant meaning of his middle name, while discussing how faith mixes with football.

The Danish full-back joined Manchester United in January 2025 and has been referred to with inclusion of his Igbo name, ‘Chinazaekpere’, for several months, to show full recognition of his heritage and religion.

We caught up with Patrick at his local church recently to discuss his beliefs and find out the full meaning of his name in the language spoken by the Igbo people in south-eastern Nigeria.

“Chinazaekpere means ‘God answers prayers’,” he explained.

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“That’s what my parents gave to me when I was born.

“Religion means a lot to me, it’s always been a big part of my life and my family’s. I’ve always been praying since I was young and I keep praying. 

“Family and the community is what I’ve grown up with in Denmark so it’s good to try and maintain it here too. I come to pray at this church on Sunday if I have the time and we don’t have a game; I try to be here as much as I can.

“I don’t know if it [religion] has an advantage [on the pitch]. It’s about always believing, believing that God has a plan for me, and for my career.

“United is a massive club, I knew it would be a great opportunity and I always think that God has a plan for everything and the fact United were the only team in for me in January meant, for me, it has to be here.

“I’ve had ups and downs. It’s just about always believing in myself and believing that I can always get better by getting top moments on the pitch, so it’s about learning from my mistakes. It’s about me always giving my best and giving the best side of me.”

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