In the midst of the misery and gloom that has gripped Old Trafford and Ralf Rangnick’s squad in recent months, there is a Manchester United team that has won the Premier League and FA Cup this season.
The national WSL Academy title was won by the women’s U21 team, led by Charlotte Healy, who defeated Chelsea in a two-legged play-off. Both games concluded 3-1, giving United a 6-2 aggregate victory. They won the Academy Cup in March, defeating Birmingham 4-1.
Karna Solskjaer, the daughter of United legend and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is leading the charge for the junior team. The 19-year-old needs 10 more titles to match her father’s outstanding tally of 12. Solskjaer made her first-team debut for United in January, coming on as a substitute in the second half.
She, like her father, is a striker who has scored 15 goals this season. Because of her familial ties, Solskjaer stands out, but she is only one of many rising stars on a team full of brilliant teenagers. Maria Edwards, who is 18 years old, scored 31 goals in 21 games, while Keira Barry stole the show against Chelsea on Wednesday, scoring twice before Megan Sofield, 16, added a third.
United’s U21 team was first founded in 2019, a year after the women’s team reformed. Previously, the club had a regional talent pathway, but due to the lack of a first-team to which the players could progress, they were forced to find other teams. In 2018, however, several members returned to the club.
Despite the excitement around the reintroduction of the women’s squad, concerns about the owners’ commitment have been voiced.
Casey Stoney, who led United to the Championship championship and two fourth-place finishes in a row, quit her position as first-team manager last summer owing to dissatisfaction with investment and facilities.
Marc Skinner was brought in to replace him, but his late arrival hampered their summer recruitment. The Red Devils may finish third for the second season in a row, and Skinner has said that greater investment is required to compete with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City. “That comes from ongoing effort and time,” Skinner said in November.
I’ve been a member of the league for quite some time. When Chelsea didn’t have Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby, and Pernille Harder upfront, it was a different story. I recall a day when Arsenal lacked Vivianne Miedema, Nikita Parris, and six strikers. ‘ The worry is understandable. We must continue to invest in our players in order to get to where we want to be.
