Emma Hayes’ Chelsea departure might provide a window of alternative for his or her Girls’s Tremendous League rivals in 2024-25, says Manchester United coach Marc Skinner.
Hayes left Chelsea to take up her new function in control of america nationwide workforce in Might, then led them to a record-extending fifth Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024.
Chelsea received seven WSL titles, 5 FA Cups and two League Cups in 12 years below Hayes, additionally profitable probably the most video games (145), scoring probably the most targets (525) and incomes probably the most factors (462) within the WSL all through her reign.
Sonia Bompastor, who led Lyon to the Champions League crown in 2021-22 after twice profitable the competitors as a participant, has taken the reins forward of the 2024-25 marketing campaign, which begins on Friday, September 20, with the Blues taking up Aston Villa.
Regardless of her spectacular CV, many imagine Chelsea might endure teething issues and see their five-year stranglehold on the WSL crown threatened this time period.
Talking on the Barclays WSL’s 2024-25 season launch media day, United boss Skinner outlined his hope that the Blues might endure from a drop-off.
“It’ll be a welcome change as a result of she appeared to win a whole lot of video games. Chelsea shall be totally different, however they’ve additionally bought a confirmed winner in Sonia,” Skinner stated.
“So it’ll be a tricky one, however the actuality is as a coach, you solely play them twice a season, so that you’ve bought to organize for these video games in another way.
“Emma’s gone on to already obtain good issues with the American workforce within the Olympics, and we all know she’s left her mark on this league. However now it’s time for different groups to do the identical, so hopefully we will be that workforce.”
Each single objective from yesterday’s win over Feynoord. pic.twitter.com/Rb8LdFCDPp
— Chelsea FC Girls (@ChelseaFCW) September 8, 2024
Skinner’s United aspect could have a brand new face between the sticks subsequent season after England stalwart Mary Earps left to hitch Paris Saint-Germain, following a long-running contract dispute with the Crimson Devils.
American Phallon Tullis-Joyce is anticipated to step up after serving as Earps’ deputy final season, and Skinner believes she might also have a increased ceiling than her predecessor.
“I’ll stress that Mary is a unbelievable goalkeeper and a extremely huge character. The fact was after we signed Phallon, we knew that Fallon may very well be Manchester United’s primary,” he stated.
“Not solely does she possess the skillset to be that participant, however she hasn’t even reached her full potential but.
“In order a lot as we’ll miss Mary, we want her all the perfect, however we transfer ahead. Soccer strikes too rapidly.
“And for us, I’ve absolute confidence that you will notice a unbelievable goalkeeper in Phallon, who has all of the potential to be a high, high goalkeeper, hopefully on the similar stage as Mary and past as a result of she has an unimaginable skillset.”
“This camp has been among the best we’ve had.”
The boss has mirrored on our time in Marbella