Manchester United Women responded perfectly to a surprise defeat to Liverpool last month, with an impressive 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League, and creative force Jayde Riviere was, once again, key to victory.

After the disappointment that followed only our second league defeat of the campaign, the Reds needed a statement victory, and pulled it off in style at Villa Park. 

In-form Elisabeth Terland rattled in two goals to put United ahead, Grace Clinton stole the show with an audacious lob to make it three, and Leah Galton slotted home a fourth in the second half – but one of United’s standout performers of the game was Jayde Riviere.

The Canadian full-back assisted Terland’s second goal with a precise lofted ball that sliced open Aston Villa’s defence and landed perfectly for the Norwegian to head home. 

But that was far from her only contribution of the day, and just one example of how the 24-year-old is increasingly playing her part in not just United’s industrious defence, but our attack too.

STANDOUT MOMENT

Jayde’s one-on-one defensive abilities and capability as part of United’s solid backline have been evident for a long time, but the 2024/25 season has seen the attacking dimension of her game grow leaps and bounds.

The explosive pace that helps her compete with the speediest of wingers can also be turned on to add extra width in attacks. That has paid dividends in recent matches where Jayde’s runs on the right, in partnership with Celin Bizet, have got her into positions to create some crucial goals. She turned provider for Terland again in February at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, creating the match-winning goal with a first-time cross that was on a plate for the striker to volley home.

Even when her work doesn’t count for a direct assist, Jayde still plays a pivotal role in creating many of United’s attacks. For the opening goal against Villa, Celin and Jayde’s partnership flourished again. After receiving the ball from Maya Le Tissier, the full-back spotted Bizet’s run in the channel and perfectly weighted a pass that somehow curled out of the reach of Villa’s Paula Tomás but ran into the path of the United winger – who crossed for Terland to finish.

Of course, her defensive duties are never neglected either. In United’s famous 4-2 derby win at the Etihad, there wasn’t a blade of grass on the right-hand side that Jayde didn’t cover. She played the most passes into the final third of any player on the pitch, but was equally critical at the other end. Some especially acrobatic blocks late in the second half stopped City from putting dangerous crosses into the box at their most threatening point of the game.

PERFORMANCE INSIGHT

Jayde’s time at the club has not been without trials. When she arrived at United in January 2023, the Canadian was rehabbing an injury, and her debut was delayed until the end of the season. While she impressed in the 2023/24 campaign, there were again frustrating injury setbacks that saw her miss out on parts of 2024. 

Now, though, she’s enjoying an extended spell free of injuries and highlights how her confidence has grown this season. Speaking to Mariam Kourabi from SHE Scores Bangers in February, Jayde was asked what aspects of her game have improved most since becoming a regular starter:

“I think confidence, honestly, is one of the things. I always knew that I had potential, I think it was just about when I was able to consistently be available [because I always dealt with injuries] and be able to show people what I could do.

“Once I started to get a lot of games under my belt, I think I naturally just gained confidence through that, obviously through my team-mates as well. Since then I’ve been able to put everything aside and just be able to play freely, and, for me, I know I play the best when I do play freely.”

She’s certainly been playing her best and has been crucial in the team’s stellar defensive record. The Reds have conceded fewer goals than anyone in the division, including keeping 12 clean sheets in 18 games – 14 of which the Canadian has started. 

However, it’s going forward that her prowess has been most evident this season and particularly in partnership with summer signing Bizet. In United’s win over Brighton at Leigh Sports Village in January, the positional understanding between the pair was particularly clear as they frequently switched places, covered one another’s roles, and provided a consistent and cohesive press that the Seagulls had no answer to.

United Women’s quality from out wide Video

DELIVERY X FINISHING | Impressively, United Women have scored nine WSL goals from crosses this season…

WHAT JAYDE SAID

“Something I’ve spoken about since being here, is just how much I’ve progressed as a person and a player. Ultimately, you want to play in an environment where you’re playing with the best of the best, and you’re being challenged and pushed in that environment. I am being pushed every single day by my team-mates. I’m being pushed every single day by the staff that are there because you’re at a huge club that expects that from you.

“But, for me, I think that where I was before signing, and where I am now, is a little bit of night and day. For me, I think I’ve been able to show, hopefully the fans and everyone, what I’m capable of doing, and I just want to continue to push those standards forward.”

WHAT THEY SAID

“Jayde is a talented young player who is ambitious and determined with the potential to be world-class,” said United’s interim head of women’s football Matt Johnson, after Riviere agreed a new contract with the club in January. 

“She has already achieved a lot at a relatively young age, but we know there is more to come, and we are delighted that she will continue her development at Manchester United.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Together, Bizet and Riviere have assisted five of top scorer Elisabeth Terland’s nine WSL goals this season, thanks to their top-class deliveries from the right wing.

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Academy Briefing: Watch U18s live on Saturday

Both our Manchester United Academy sides are in action over the coming days, and supporters can watch one fixture on MUTV and attend the other.

On Saturday, the Under-18s host Leeds United at Carrington live on MUTV, where coverage begins five minutes before the new kick-off time of 11:30 BST. Subscribe now to watch.

The Under-21s, meanwhile, are at Leigh Sports Village, facing Nottingham Forest on Monday night. While the game cannot be shown live on MUTV due to Premier League regulations, fans who wish to attend are encouraged to do so. Tickets are available here.

FA YOUTH CUP DEFEAT

Our U18s suffered Youth Cup heartbreak earlier this week as their memorable and spirited campaign concluded with semi-final defeat, on penalties, to Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Adam Lawrence’s side had shown their quality throughout the competition, with the full squad playing crucial roles as some players trained or played with Ruben Amorim’s first-team. On the night in Birmingham, however, they couldn’t quite find the final bit of magic to overcome Villa.

We’re very proud of our young players’ efforts in the Youth Cup and know this experience will only aid their development as they learn to cope with a painful defeat.

Despite the result, it remained a special night for those involved, with more than 1,000 United fans in attendance, as well as legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Thanks to all those supporters who turned out — your efforts are massively appreciated.

U21s DRAW AT LEEDS

United recovered from a two-goal deficit in last Friday’s Premier League 2 fixture at Leeds.

Travis Binnion’s starting XI handed three debuts at Under-21s level – Cameron Byrne-Hughes, Albert Mills and James Overy — and James Bailey came off the bench for his first appearance, too.

Sekou Kone notched his first goal for the club before being fouled inside the box, allowing Sam Mather to level things up from the spot.

Leeds survived a couple of late goalmouth scares as both sides took a point at Thorp Arch. You can watch highlights below.

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U21s highlights | See the main action from Friday’s four-goal encounter with Leeds United…

FIXTURE UPDATES

A couple of games were moved due to our Youth Cup participation.

Our match against Derby County — originally scheduled for Tuesday 1 April — will now be played on Friday 18 April, still at Carrington, and now as a 13:00 BST kick-off. Another home game, against Sunderland, has been shifted back to Saturday 10 May and a 12:00 BST kick-off.

MUTV INFO AT A GLANCE

Saturday 5 April | UNITED U18s v Leeds | 11:30 | Live on MUTV

Monday 7 April | UNITED U21s v Nottingham Forest | 19:00 | Not live on MUTV (Premier League regulations)

Friday 11 April | Reading v UNITED U21s | 19:00 | Live on MUTV

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Ruben Amorim says Manchester United are ‘in a rush’ to regain our place at the top table of English football.

United are 13th in the table going into Sunday’s Manchester derby and Ruben acknowledged that the club and team are going through a period of short-term change, in the pursuit of long-term improvement.

Our head coach added that, while it might be ‘crazy’ to believe we will challenge for the title next season, it is not in his nature to think it will take years for the Reds to compete in the Premier League again.

He also suggested that ‘one or two big players’ could be added to the squad this summer as we seek to narrow the gap.

Read what the boss said in more detail below, as part of the full press conference transcript…

Part one: Press conference v Man City Video

Press conference part one | Ruben provides the latest news on injuries and our squad, before Sunday’s Manchester derby…

Hi Ruben, start off as always. How’s the team looking, is anyone back, is anyone ruled out?
“I think Kobbie is returning to training so we’ll see and assess for this game already. Of course he cannot play a full game, he’s a long time without training. I think Matta [Matthijs de Ligt] has an issue. He has something during the game [at Nottingham Forest] and we have to assess. I think the rest is normal.”

Obviously when the fixtures come out, City is one of the main fixtures United fans will be looking at, but you’ve got such a big game Thursday, you’ve got players coming back. Will you be rotating or is that something you can’t afford to do in a fixture like this?
“No, we are going to focus game by game. We have a few days to recover from the last game and then we will have a few games to come. I think the focus in that department will be more on the next one in the Premier League. So we want to win this game, we want to improve in the league table and especially we want to win games. We are going to have full focus on this game.”

Ruben can you just assess Garnacho at the moment? He’s played a huge amount of games actually as a young player and maybe he’s not quite delivering what people want but equally he’s still learning how to play the game. How do you assess him?
“I think he’s doing the right things. Of course, like any player in our team he has to choose better, especially in the last third. We have to improve, all the players have to improve. Maybe Bruno is the one who can do something – an assist or scoring goals – very easily. So we have to improve as a team to help Garnacho but Garnacho is improving the way he defends, the way he runs so he’s working hard and he needs to score more goals and assists, that is clear, but so do the other guys. I see him as a young kid that wants to improve, is improving, but he’s not in a great moment in that department, like the other guys on the team.”

Ruben just want your reaction to Kevin De Bruyne announcing that he will be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season. How have you rated him as a player?
“That is easy. He was like one of the best players in the Premier League. The time passes for everyone, so it’s a natural thing. He improved the league. He was on the wrong side of Manchester [laughs] so I wish him good luck. It was a pleasure to see him in Portugal a lot of times so I hope he enjoys the rest of his life.”

Ruben how do you assess the moment Manchester City are in facing your team, because when you faced them at the Etihad earlier in the campaign they were struggling far more then. Do you think they’ve recovered from that or do you still see some of the same problems?
“No, I’m more focused on our problems. I think we have bigger problems than Manchester City. They had that run in that moment but they improved. They can play in different ways. It’s really hard to understand how and to think how they are going to face us. They have maybe the best coach in the world and they have top players, so it will be a difficult match but like I said I’m so focused on improving my team that I’m not worried about the improvements of Manchester City. Just try to understand how Manchester City is going to play so I can help my players be on top of their game.”

Was the win there the best moment you’ve had as Manchester United manager so far?
“I don’t know, it’s hard. Sometimes I’m really happy with the small things, not with the big things, and I don’t see one game – especially in this club but also former clubs – I don’t see one win as a special moment. A special moment is to be really competitive and to win titles, that is the biggest moment. Winning games, you can win… even in third division you can win against the best team in the country so I don’t see it that way.”

Ruben, Mason Mount has been training for four weeks now. Is he fit enough to start?
“Yes, he can start but we have to manage his minutes still.”

Just on that, I think his last start was against City. This is big running for the club but for him in particular could this be the making of him at United, giving the injury issues he’s had?
“I don’t know. The important thing is not to speak about that too much. He’s going to think all the time: “it’s my time, I have to do it.” Mason Mount trained a lot of times, getting the load in his body and forget about that, that is really important because the mind sometimes is more important than the body. It’s one more player that is fit to play. We’ll see on Sunday.”

You said just then that special moments are winning titles. I think Sunday is your 20th league game and you’ve got 22 points from a possible 57. With that in mind, the club have got this grand plan of winning the title in three years’ time – is it realistic from the club thinking that way, given the points tally you’ve got and is it unfair? Does it put extra pressure on you as a manager when the club comes out with these grand visions of winning a title which seems to outsiders at least, very unrealistic?
“Of course I understand, I’m not naïve. Sometimes it’s for me, I don’t want to think we need a lot of years to be competitive. I cannot think like that, I cannot manage like that – it’s not in me. That’s why I’m putting pressure on myself. I know that we are not going to be the biggest contender in the next year or two years. I know we need to do a lot of things and we are doing a lot of things, putting some standards and sometimes we change players sometimes because they are not adjusting here, sometimes they have to learn how to adjust to our new standards. I know that, so it’s really hard to do something like that in one year. Then we have to change a lot of things, we are changing a lot of staff, we are changing a lot of things inside the club. I know that is going to take time, but I will not think like that and I will not say I need a lot of years. I cannot manage that. So for me, it’s like we are preparing something, that we have to change a lot next year. So that next year is our goal. I’m not saying that we’re going to win the title on the next year, I’m not crazy. What I’m saying is that I don’t want this conversation that we need a lot of years and let’s keep it calm, no. We are in a rush. So next year, we are suffering a lot for next year to be so much better. And that is our goal. Sometimes things can happen. I don’t know, I don’t want to be that guy that is here saying we need a lot of time, I will not be that coach.”

You’ve just said there you’re in a rush to win the Premier League title, but when you see City have a quite average season and they’re able to spend £180m in January and you’re talking about in the summer maybe players have to leave before players can come in. Is that not quite daunting to see that they’re one of the teams you have to catch and they’re able to do this when you aren’t?
“Not just Manchester City but other teams, they are already in a place that we need a lot to catch them and they will improve, that’s for sure next season. Again, I just want to focus on our strengths and try to use our club to try to bring one or two players, big players, I don’t know – sometimes big players for me is different from big players to you. What I’m saying is that we need to focus. We are doing all the stuff for next season to be better, and so much better. If we are going to win something, I don’t know. If it’s going to take four years like in the memo, I don’t know. In my head here, I cannot manage again. I will not manage this thing of ‘in four years, I will try something.’ For me, we will start next season. We need to be so much better because this is a massive club. The pressure is that and I want to put this pressure on me and everybody here.”

Ruben just on that, in the past some of your predecessors will have finished in the top four – maybe second, third – and they’ll talk about trying to get above City, get above Liverpool. Is the reality of the challenge you face now that it’s not just them and Arsenal, there are clubs like Villa and Newcastle and Brighton who, while United have gone down, have all increased? And you’ve got these clubs to get past first before you can even think about toppling a Liverpool or an Arsenal or a City?
“Yeah, the focus must be how to improve our team in every aspect. If we think like that then of course the Premier League is so different. I have a lot of people saying Sir Alex Ferguson took three or four years to win something, it’s not possible nowadays, because you have to speak three times and give three interviews before each game, so the pressure is completely different. Then any team now that is in the Premier League can win, so it’s going to be really important again. But we are in Manchester United, there is a lot of good things, there are some bad things. That is the pressure. No matter what the context, we need to be there with the best ones. So of course we will have to face a lot of adversity and a lot of big teams, more than in the past. But let’s focus on that and try to win the next game.”

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Amorim’s team news update for derby

Ruben Amorim has provided an update on his squad ahead of the Manchester derby at the weekend.

The United boss is hoping he can mastermind another defeat of our neighbours, following wins against them this term, in the Champions League with former club Sporting, and thanks to the Etihad Stadium comeback triumph with the Reds in December.

Despite the disappointment of a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, in our first game after a long break, there was some positive news with the return to action of Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Mason Mount.

In relation to Mount’s fitness, Ruben said: “Yes, he can start, but we have to manage his minutes still.”

During his press conference at Carrington to preview Sunday’s 16:30 BST kick-off, Amorim said he could welcome Kobbie Mainoo back into the matchday squad, after the young midfielder has been out, due to injury, since the Emirates FA Cup tie against Leicester City in February.

However, in-form defender Matthijs de Ligt has an “issue” and must be considered a doubt for the match against the Blues, after picking up a knock at The City Ground.

“I think Kobbie is returning to training, so we’ll see and assess for this game already,” said our head coach. “Of course, he cannot play a full game, he’s a long time without training.

“I think Matta [de Ligt] has an issue. He has something during the game [at Forest] and we have to assess. I think the rest is normal.”

Altay Bayindir was back and among the substitutes at Forest, while fellow keeper Tom Heaton has also been training again.

Lisandro Martinez will not play again this season, while Ayden Heaven, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans have all been sidelined of late.

Part one: Press conference v Man City Video

Press conference part one | Ruben provides the latest news on injuries and our squad, before Sunday’s Manchester derby…

CITY’S TEAM NEWS

Ahead of the big game, experienced midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed that he will be leaving the club in the summer.

Nonetheless, the Belgium international will be available after being rested for the 2-0 win over Leicester City in midweek.

Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were also unused substitutes but Oscar Bobb came on to make his first appearance since our Community Shield clash at Wembley in August.

Leading goalscorer Erling Haaland has joined John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Rodri on the list of absentees.

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Ruben: Garnacho is doing the right things

Ruben Amorim is confident that Alejandro Garnacho is doing the right things to improve at Manchester United.

Our head coach was assessing Garnacho ahead of the 196th Manchester derby. The 20-year-old forward famously netted in one of our most memorable derby victories of recent times, last year’s Emirates FA Cup final victory at Wembley. He also scored in our Community Shield encounter back in August, before a defeat on penalties.

Garnacho has been a consistent presence for United under Amorim, playing in a variety of positions as he’s adjusted to the new boss’s demands and style of play.

Ruben accepted that the Argentina international needs to boost his numbers this season, but insists he has the right attitude and approach.

“I think he’s doing the right things,” Ruben said, when questioned on Garnacho in his pre-derby press conference.

Part one: Press conference v Man City Video

Press conference part one | Ruben provides the latest news on injuries and our squad, before Sunday’s Manchester derby…

“Of course, like any player in our team, he has to choose better, especially in the last third. We have to improve, all the players have to improve. Maybe Bruno [Fernandes] is the one who can do something — an assist or scoring goals — very easily.

“So we have to improve as a team to help Garnacho, but Garnacho is improving the way he defends, the way he runs, so he’s working hard. He needs to score more goals and assists, that is clear, but so do the other guys.

“I see him as a young kid who wants to improve, is improving but is not in the great moment in that department, like the other guys on the team.”

Back in December, Alejandro was left out of United’s squad for our 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium. He was immediately reinstated to the side soon after.

With another derby coming around, it’s clearly a good opportunity for Garnacho to show what he’s capable of.

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