The most noticeable changes at Manchester United have happened on the pitch, as new manager Olid, who joined in the summer, conceded her side needed to revert to old ways. The team had struggled to adapt to her new style, which demands lots of possession, an attacking mindset and high-risk football. Defeats by London City Lionesses and Chelsea saw them manage just two shots on target and less than 40% possession in both matches. Olid felt her team were trying to do too much and had lost sight of strengths such as their defensive organisation.
She urged her players to return to what they knew before their 1-1 draw with Arsenal, which showed signs of improvement. "The things they were good at before, they need to keep and at the same time, little by little, we need to implement our new style," Olid said. That draw at Emirates Stadium became the catalyst for change, offering a foundation to build upon. United then enjoyed a run of games against lower-ranked opposition and two successive WSL matches at home.
The difference was stark. They won the maximum nine points, scored six goals, conceded just two and almost doubled their possession percentage. By returning to a more familiar defensive structure and adding elements of Olid's new style, they caused more problems up front. Having recorded just 197 passes ending in the final third in their first three games, they managed a combined 529 against West Ham, Liverpool and Charlton Athletic. They also quadrupled their shots, going from 10 to 42.
Perhaps the biggest changes have been off the pitch. Following a 5-0 drubbing by Chelsea, Olid explained, her side had navigated a "transitional period" and taken part in big discussions. Olid said the "honest conversations" were needed to find a solution. Vice-captain Ella Toone responded to being omitted from England selection by scoring in the 3-1 win at Charlton, while the international break gave Olid time to reorganise her backroom staff, including assistant coaches Jose Herrera and Gavin Beith. Now, on a winning run, Olid hopes a Manchester derby on Sunday will add motivation.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing