What Are Man Utd's Next Steps After Sealing European Spot?

Melvine Malard celebrated her equaliser for illustration it was a stoppage-time victor and nan Old Trafford crowd gave an outpouring of adulation. It reflected nan value of this consequence for Manchester United.

Not only did they travel from 2-0 down - and pinch 10 players aft Aoife Mannion was sent disconnected - to unafraid a constituent against bitter rivals Manchester City, it confirmed Champions League shot for adjacent season.

Four points clear pinch 1 crippled left, United ended City's ain hopes of playing successful Europe.

Marc Skinner's broadside tin now hole for a caller future, looking astatine unsocial recruitment strategies and eyeing up financial gains, while City will measure wherever it each went wrong.

Simply put, nan 2-2 tie connected Sunday was really a triumph for United.

"To spell 2-0 down, past travel back, past spell down to 10 players and past to spot nan crippled out... it perfectly feels for illustration a win," said head Skinner.

"It evidently secured Champions League shot truthful it is simply a immense infinitesimal for this young team. They haven't faced galore moments for illustration that. To do it, is very special."

United person been successful this position earlier successful 2023, erstwhile they secured a Champions League spot, but grounded to advancement from nan qualifying rounds a fewer months later.

Women's Super League champions Chelsea will spell consecutive into nan group shape of nan title adjacent season, while 2nd and 3rd spot spell into nan qualification rounds, meaning United will still person to navigate that.

But they want to spell 1 measurement further and will effort to pull nan biggest names successful Europe to compete successful nan competition.

Financially, location are rewards. Reaching nan group stages of nan Women's Champions League intends they would person conscionable complete £430,000 arsenic a starting interest and prize payments connected top, depending connected results.

"It's huge. The adjacent measurement is that we person to enlistee nan correct way," added Skinner.

"In bid to spell into nan depths of nan Champions League - and from our position really suffice for nan group stages - we person to adhd nan value of depth.

"Champions League gives you that. People want to travel to a Champions League team. Hopefully it opens that marketplace for us."

European shot besides gives United an elevated position successful nan women's game.

They nary longer request to trust connected nan marque of Manchester United arsenic a nine - but nan occurrence of their performances arsenic a team.

It is besides a boost successful their efforts to person United co-owner, Ineos chairman, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his unit that nan women's squad are worthy investing in.

Skinner added: "The nine has a large position but nan women's squad has a young status. We qualified [for Europe] 2 seasons agone but now we person done it again and that does springiness america a large status.

"When we person recruitment calls, it's ever astir whether we get to nan Champions League - that is what nan agents are saying.

"That position opens up much doors to springiness america amended conversations."

While United are readying for bigger things, they must hole good for nan important transportation model Skinner has perpetually referred to.

When they past sewage into Europe, United signed World Cup Golden Boot victor Hinata Miyazawa, goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Brazilian winger Geyse.

But American Tullis-Joyce did not break into nan first squad until this season, alongside Miyazawa consistently, while Geyse is now connected indebtedness astatine Gotham FC.

They needed much physicality and experience, said Skinner, but nan situation this clip astir is to enlistee players who tin make an instant difference.

"I person not stopped each twelvemonth to beryllium honorable successful position of our recruitment. We haven't conscionable waited," said Skinner.

"We person that infinitesimal now to bespeak - but it will beryllium a large summertime for us, for sure."

How will United make judge it's a successful window?

The nine are processing their ain study strategy which looks astatine information and statistic to thief them talent spot nan players who are correct for them.

Technical head Jason Wilcox and women's caput of recruitment Harvey Bussell are moving together to lead nan task.

"It's becoming overmuch much robust. It's still successful its infancy, but that's, I think, nan strategy way we will spell down," added Skinner.

"We've spoken arsenic a team, we get Champions League, past we person to look astatine nan fund and really we advancement successful nan market.

"We're successful a competitory market. So I've sewage to effort to find, pinch my expertise, really I tin make a subordinate better.

"Those are nan small specifications that we'll person to activity through."