Eva Olid’s first Manchester United Women game offered an early reminder of the scale of the job awaiting the new head coach, even if a 1-1 pre-season draw with Leicester City should not be treated as a tactical blueprint.
Elisabeth Terland scored as Olid began her tenure with a draw, just days after replacing Marc Skinner. The result was secondary, but the occasion gave the Spaniard her first opportunity to work through the decisions facing a squad undergoing considerable change.
ReadManUtd reported on Sunday that Olid has described taking charge of Manchester United Women as a dream opportunity. Now the work of shaping her team has started.
Terland gives Eva Olid a proven attacking reference point
Terland scoring in Olid’s first match was an encouraging place to start.
The Norway international is already an established part of United’s attack and should provide a valuable reference point while the new coach works out how she wants her side to function.
There has been significant change around her. Melvine Malard has completed a permanent move to Chelsea, while experienced players Millie Turner and Lisa Naalsund have also left during a busy summer.
Manchester United have kept supporters updated through their official summer transfer tracker, highlighting the amount of movement within Olid’s squad.
That turnover places greater importance on players such as Terland, Ella Toone, Maya Le Tissier and Fridolina Rolfö providing continuity.
Olid does not need to rebuild everything from scratch, but she does have to establish a new structure around a changing group.
Man Utd Women rebuild must balance youth and experience
One of the most interesting elements of Olid’s appointment was the language United used when explaining their long-term vision.
The club highlighted the development of homegrown talent and young players as an important part of its plans. Olid arrives with a strong reputation in precisely that area after overseeing the most successful period in Hearts Women’s history.
Reuters reported that United were attracted by both her player-development record and attacking approach after she led Hearts to the Scottish Women’s Premier League title. She was named SWPL Manager of the Season before making the move south. (reuters.com)
That makes the academy an important part of this Man Utd Women rebuild, but it cannot be the entire answer.
United finished fourth in the WSL last season. If they want to close the gap at the top, Olid will need established senior quality alongside the emerging players she has been appointed to develop.
Leicester draw was only the beginning for Olid
It would be premature to draw firm tactical conclusions from one behind-closed-doors friendly.
Manchester United confirmed the 1-1 Leicester draw in their official match report, with Olid still at the very beginning of her work with the squad.
ReadManUtd had previewed her first game by highlighting the quality already available within the group. The challenge now is turning that individual quality into a team capable of moving beyond last season’s fourth-place finish.
United open their WSL campaign away to London City Lionesses on 4 September, giving Olid less than a month to establish her first competitive side.
The Leicester draw offered few definitive answers.
What it did provide was the starting point for a rebuild that will require Olid to develop young players, integrate new arrivals and retain enough experience to make United competitive immediately.
