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Manchester United boss Marc Skinner has apologized to fans after he and his players were hammered 6-0 by Chelsea at Old Trafford on the final day of the WSL campaign on Saturday.
The win effectively clinched the title for Chelsea – their fifth successive crown in a row.
United were brought back to reality in a rude way after last week’s FA Cup final triumph against Tottenham Hotspur.
A brace from Mayra Ramirez and goals from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Nusken, Melanie Leupolz and Fran Kirby were enough to see United through.
The Reds finished their campaign in fifth position, six points behind fourth-placed Liverpool and 20 points behind champions Chelsea.
Skinner, who recently penned a one-year contract extension with the option to extend for a further 12 months, spoke to the media after the match and reacted to the disappointing defeat.
He thanked the fans for their support before saying sorry for how the team performed. “We love them. We didn’t produce for them today, but we wanted to. We have produced the first trophy of what we hope will be many in the future. Even their voices at the end, they’re there.”
“Real fans support the team forever, and we have real fans. Sorry for today, but we love them. I will try to die trying to deliver trophies to them for many years to come.”
On the gap between United and Chelsea, Skinner said: “No, I don’t think it (the result) reflects the gap. I think it reflects a gap in the game, certainly, but other than that; counterattacks were aggressive. They were physical. We knew it was going to happen. And then you get hurt because of it.”
“So you have to defend those physical attributes. But yeah, I mean, other than that, I don’t think we’re six nil away from Chelsea. I don’t mean that at all. But we have to continue to develop the depth of our squad to compete.”
He added: “It feels like a (low point) at the moment, doesn’t it, but I think it’s part and parcel of the team trying to develop. We are opening before your eyes. We have to grow, and we have to try things where you have to recruit more players, and you have to continue to grow so fast, where does your consistency come from?”
“Over the past few years we’ve had to continue to develop the team and we’ve got to get to a point where it’s minimal, I mean, minimal disruption.”
The 41-year-old gave an update on Leah Galton, who picked up an injury during last week’s FA Cup final win.
Skinner said Galton will be out for a few months, but given the nature of the setback, the outcome seems more positive than it might otherwise be.
The United boss predicted the 29-year-old midfielder could miss pre-season but will return in time for the start of the new WSL campaign.
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