‘I’m sure they’ll try to react’ – Skinner looks ahead to Manchester United’s trip to Spurs | OneFootball

Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner has acknowledged latest opponents Tottenham Hotspur’s good run in the league and is expecting them to be determined to bounce back from their Adobe Women’s FA Cup exit at Everton in midweek.

The Red Devils face Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening in their latest Barclays Women’s Super League fixture.

When speaking to the media in the pre-match press conference, Manchester United boss Skinner acknowledged the fact that Spurs are getting league results and that the North Londoners will be keen to put things right following their 2-0 loss at Everton on Wednesday evening.

“They had a tough run of games before Christmas,” Skinner said. “Having watched them, the way that they want to play, I would imagine that they are playing to the same levels that they were prior to Christmas but winning.

“They’re out of the FA Cup which will be hugely disappointing for Robert [Vilahamn] and the team and I’m sure they’ll try to react. It’s always a good game between Tottenham and Manchester United.

“Maybe they’re not performing to the football levels that they’d want but they’re getting results in the league. That’s what it is when you go through these moments, you’ve just got to get results and they’re doing that. They’ve signed three players in the transfer window, so they’re trying to evolve the squad again.

“I think this will be a tough game but every game between now and the end of the season will be tough. Going away to that stadium with their fans, we will have to be at our very best and that’s what we are going to try to do.”

Manchester United pair Grace Clinton and Celin Bizet Ildhusøy have benefited from time at Spurs in the past and Skinner says that The Lilywhites are well-respected by The Red Devils.

He said “There’s respect [from Grace and Celin] for how the team played, respect for the club and respect for the players. When we play Tottenham, there’s a lot of respect. We go to battle for 90-plus minutes but actually, there’s a lot of respect between the two clubs and Robert [Vilahamn] is a good guy.

“From our perspective, we can see what we need to do and you’ve just got to make sure that you do it to the best of your ability. If we can get that energy out, I feel that we can have a good day but we also know that Tottenham are a very dangerous team and they can skew any game that they’re in.”

Manchester United’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture at Tottenham Hotspur kicks-off at 6.45pm.