Where do Man United Women go from here? There are financial and footballing issues to address Investment is one topic of internal discussion, while The Athletic has been told of concerns around some elements of coaching

Piece on Man Utd Women

▪️"Defy the odds" slogan for 2026
▪️Suggestion of external investment shot down at March meeting
▪️Screenshot of depleted bench vs WSL rival sent to higher up
▪️Coaching criticisms
▪️"The players deserve better"

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Liverpool top scorer Beata Olsson on calls to her psychologist and whirlwind WSL season The Sweden international's early impact was disrupted by injury. She talks to Megan Feringa about that setback and her career so far

"Three times a week I was calling my psychologist. He’d be like, ‘Are we down in the bottom?’. I’d say, ‘Yeah… we’re down in the bottom’.”

Beata Olsson on journey to Liverpool, being LFC's early season lifeline, losing her starting spot under Taylor + regaining it.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Twenty-four hours in the life of Phallon Tullis-Joyce: From League Cup final to feeding Komodo dragons Man Utd's USWNT goalkeeper discusses her love of conservation and how it intersects with football - all while it's dinner time at the zoo

“Yesterday I had a water bottle w/ the PKs for Chelsea [on it]. Today I had a water bottle full of blood + muntjac deer. That's a sick transition in, like, 24 hours.”

A day at the zoo with Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

For Manchester United, the riddle remains: how do you beat Chelsea in a cup final? Marc Skinner's side succumbed to familiar failings in the League Cup final as Chelsea, inspired by Lauren James, lifted the trophy yet again

Admission is the first step to recovery. Which is good news for Marc Skinner and Man Utd’s 1/19 record against Chelsea. Of course, words are only so powerful, like an 80th minute goalkeeper timeout when you're already 2-0 down. @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

As the Women’s Super League continues to grow, academy players risk being left behind Until recently, WSL clubs' academies were lower priorities as teams raced to capitalise on increased attention after the 2022 Euros

WSL clubs are increasingly investing in young talent from abroad. Sources say WSL academy players are not ready. But why?

“It’s easy to say, they aren’t ready, but no one has come down from the top of the club to check on them.”

@theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Man Utd, Atletico and a kit mix-up that means the WSL side have to wear their third strip at home Match officials decided hours before kick-off that the orange goalkeeper kit the Spanish side brought would clash with United's red shirt.

Man Utd to wear third black kit, not red, for UWCL tie vs Atletico Madrid tonight due to colour clash. MU say AM brought only their orange GK kit, not pre-approved yellow one. However AM say MU approved the orange kit + confirmed w Uefa. @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Vinícius, Mourinho and treating racism as reputational risk rather than a lived reality | Jonathan Liew The Brazilian has seen this before, football has seen this before, and yet why does it feel like nothing ever changes?

on vinicius, jim ratcliffe and bad immigrants

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Women’s football clubs must go beyond ‘family friendly’ – ‘Figuring out our identity is crucial’ The challenges of growing regular matchgoers are common across the WSL — but Villa's managing director has a distinct plan for the club

Family-friendly isn’t an identity. Being too afraid to alienate anyone that you fail to connect meaningfully w anyone won’t grow attendances. Piece w Aston Villa’s Maggie Murphy on growing attendances + club identity in age of impatience. @theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s call for more women in power is ironic and disappointing When you have the power like Gianni Infantino, perhaps a finger should be pointed at oneself.

Apparently there is a lack of women in important positions in football. Thank goodness we have the unimpeachable feminist icon that is Gianni Infantino to enlighten us on a system he has definitely not abetted. @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Chelsea Women in crisis: A critical exit, player confusion and the role of the men’s sporting directors The departure of Paul Green as head of women's football is a major moment for the club, who have endured an unusually difficult season

"A masterpiece torn apart.”

Inside CFCW crisis: Green's exit, club's “disgraceful” email to staff + ops, leadership interference from men's side, recruitment failings, staff division + more
@reallycerys.bsky.social @charpur.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Who won the WSL transfer deadline day? A better question: Does it matter? The league's winter transfer window was quiet this year. That's not necessarily a bad thing

Wrote a piece on the window. Specifically its "quiet" + how people seem upset by this, despite multiple club records broken, the WSL's increasingly disproportionate financial heft + another USWNT player discovering what a Tesco club card is. @theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Excl: Everton have parted ways with head coach Brian Sorensen and assistant coach Stephen Nilgen. Comes after Everton's 2-1 win over Aston Villa with Everton 4pts off bottom.

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Copyrighted art, mobile phones, Greenland: welcome to our age of shameless theft | Jonathan Liew The human impulse to steal has been accelerated by AI, inequality and our political leaders – with profound consequences, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Liew

I wrote a column about the age of theft www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This Manchester City side is a beast – Chelsea were just its latest prey Kerolin tore Chelsea apart at the Etihad on Sunday, and made it look easy. The WSL title race is looking more like a procession...

Kerolin is very good. But head coach Andrée Jeglertz (after agreeing she is very good) focused on where she can be even better. Which is the key (+ for rivals, the fear) of this Man City side: an insatiable appetite + a demand to quench it. @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Meet Helena Costa, the only female sporting director in the men’s game She made headlines around the world when appointed to manage Clermont Foot in France but now she is leading the way in a different role

Great interview by @adamleventhal.bsky.social w/ Helena Costa on a life spent breaking thru glass ceilings, now as men's football's only female sporting director.

"For me, it's natural. But it’s also a responsibility. It has to work. Otherwise, it won’t open doors.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Manchester City lead Chelsea in the WSL by six points. They have won all 11 games since defeat on the opening day to their title rivals.

The perennial champions are their only rivals.

@meganferinga.bsky.social on a top-four race split in two.

bit.ly/4aVF4W3

Wrexham Women have Champions League ambitions. Owning their own stadium is the first step Wrexham Women played their first match at their new home on Sunday. A first step in an ambitious project

“When we’re in the Champions League.”

An ambition that’d be filed under delusional if Wrexham weren’t so deft at these kinds of grand plans. Next up: Wrexham Women in Europe. The first big step - owning their own ground - has been taken. @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

A farcical League Cup draw: the latest example of why a blind obsession for women’s sports’ growth at all costs is abandoning the very audience and soul that built it.

But hey, at least we can all eat footlongs. @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

Everton Women CEO Hannah Forshaw to step down at end of season Hannah Forshaw only officially began work at the club in September but will exit at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Excl: Hannah Forshaw to step down as Everton Women CEO at end of 2025/26 season, despite starting in Sept. Exit is mutual + amicable. Review ongoing on what leadership will look like for future.

Details below @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

Signe Gaupset.

Tottenham Hotspur Women have completed the signing of Norway international Signe Gaupset for a club-record fee of £378,000.

More from @meganferinga.bsky.social ⤵️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

Glad you enjoyed! It was about time I got something together on them😅

Thanks yall🙏

After last season's tears, Tottenham are enjoying a WSL revival

Fantastic piece. Full of background detail. By @meganferinga.bsky.social who is always excellent on Spurs Women.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Tottenham vs Arsenal: How last season’s tears were followed by Spurs’ WSL revival In what has historically been a lopsided rivalry, Arsenal face a very different Spurs side in Sunday's WSL north London derby

5th in WSL. Level on pts w Arsenal. 2nd from bottom last season.

Inside Tottenham's revival:
▪️Last season's toil
▪️Ex-Arsenal chief Venkatesham appt
▪️Martin Ho's 4-day recruitment
▪️Casey Stoney’s phone call
▪️Koga Hail Mary
▪️Ho's reset

@theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Wout van Aert interview: Dropping Tadej Pogacar, recovering from injury and what cycling can learn from the NBA The Belgian star on a season of recovery and redemption: 'I just wanted to show that I’m still there, that I can be among the best riders'

Wout van Aert is one of cycling’s superstars; his win over Montmartre one of the year’s top moments.

We spoke about post-injury doubts, managing his own demanding nature, and his big offseason adventure in the USA.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

The saga of Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton proves our heroes are human An extract of Mary Earps’ new autobiography was published at the weekend and there's a temptation to reach for the big, obvious take

Choose your avatar. #TeamHannah. #TeamMary. Community Note: There’s only one right answer. But maybe this can also be sad, a reminder of how easily we exalt humans to heroes + how precipitous the inevitable crash down is. @theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite to undergo surgery after hamstring injury rehab ‘complication’ Everton are now likely to be without the defender, a key player and one of their highest earners, for an extended period of time.

Jarrad Branthwaite is set to undergo surgery on Tuesday after suffering what Everton described as a “complication” in his return from a hamstring injury.

More from @paddyboyland.bsky.social and @meganferinga.bsky.social ⤵️

Jess Park’s sparkling cameo proves she is already integral to Manchester United The brace against Everton from the bench was emblematic of Park’s transformation into one of the league’s most valuable attacking threats

Jess Park is very good at football. Apparently the only way to stop her is by kicking a football into her face, That’s after coming off the bench + scoring two goals. Given the freedom to invert, to carry the ball, to roam, Park is thriving. Man Utd are better for it. www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

In women’s sports, athletes losing their periods was long considered normal. Not anymore A byproduct of wider issues, periods continue to be missed, ignored or misunderstood in elite sports

“You don’t have a period but that’s fine. You’re an athlete.” A caveat accompanying countless medical results, despite inevitable danger, lines being drawn between sacrifices periods + sporting success. A piece for my sister + those challenging the system. www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...