Manchester United Women v Chelsea Women match programme, Women's FA Cup, 14.4.24

ASSISTS

BLUNDELL POSTER

JAN 2020

IS HIS MANAGER’S COLUMN, MARC SAYS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT IS NEEDED TO HELP SEE US BACK TO WEMBLEY

MARC SKINNER

Good afternoon. We’re glad to have you with us here at Leigh Sports Village for one of our biggest games of the season. For both ourselves and our opponents Chelsea it’s a first game back after the international break, and I was pleased to see us go into that break on the back of a win, against Everton here at LSV. In the first half we created enough to comfortably be in front. We attacked from the off and should have scored before half-time. But whenever you don’t score you can leave a space for the opponent to gain a little momentum. We let Everton create a few pressing traps and they scored from it, without creating anything. At half-time the players’ attitude was excellent and I had no doubt that we would win the game. The players stayed relaxed but ready and we destroyed Everton in the second half. It was a real learning and growth moment for the team.

I’d also like to congratulate Aoife for playing her first 90 minutes since returning from injury. Her experience and competitiveness will be vital on the run-in.

As we compete for a place at Wembley against Emma Hayes’s side today, there is no room for anything less than 100 per cent. This includes the mental aspects of performance. Managing momentum in games like this and varying our style to suit the different needs of the tie will be really important. Although we have lost in past games against Chelsea, our experience and performances have grown. We now need to add all of our knowledge, experiences and energy together with our fans as we fight to progress to the final.

To the fans, we will need you in every minute this afternoon. In the good and the tough moments throughout the game, we need to be together in synergy. Games like this can be decided in moments and we have the advantage of you! Our fans. As we go into battle, let’s move as a collective and try to reach another FA Cup final.

PLAY WITH STYLE

WHAT IS STYLE?

It’s Control. Creativity. And being prepared to cross that line. It’s the freedom to do your thing and play to your own whistle.

It’s the ‘I’ in Individuality and the ‘You’ in UNITED. www.remington.co.uk/manutd

COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF

WEMBLEY CALLING

Can United return to the national stadium for a second straight FA Cup final? If we can, it’ll be an afternoon for heroes, as the Reds lock horns with the holders...

Should you be reading this inside the stadium at Leigh Sports Village, you might already know the team making up one half of the 54th Women’s FA Cup final, with Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City going head-to-head at 12pm today, but who will be joining them at Wembley Stadium come Sunday 12 May?

With the BBC screening both semi-finals live, the unusual 2.35pm kick-off time here in Leigh will at least allow armchair fans to briefly catch their collective breath and put the kettle on should game one at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium go to extra-time and penalties. But for

those taking to the field at LSV, there will be no consideration of the Spurs v Foxes game and what could possibly lie ahead (even if they do happen to be our next two WSL opponents). For Marc Skinner’s Reds and Emma Hayes’s Blues, it’s all about the here and now, and focusing on doing everything possible to get back to the Wembley showpiece, a year after we met each other there in the 53rd Cup final. While the Reds battled back to win convincingly at home to Everton in the WSL last time out, our inconsistent league form has seen the FA Cup take on increasing importance in recent weeks. And while we could yet have a big say in whether Chelsea win the WSL when they visit Old Trafford on the final day – six days after the FA Cup final – today’s game is the one United really need to win if we’re to have a chance of proudly parading a trophy of our own when the curtain comes down on 2023/24 at the Theatre of Dreams.

United and Chelsea last met in the FA Cup in the 2023 final, with one of the teams to return to Wembley as it hosts a 10th final next month

WE’VE HAD FAMOUS WINS HERE AGAINST FELLOW BIG GUNS

ARSENAL AND CITY –NOW’S THE TIME TO ADD CHELSEA TO THAT LIST

While no team would have chosen to draw Chelsea in the semis – after all, the reigning Double holders are currently plotting a WSL, Cup and Champions League Treble, spurred on by Hayes’s looming departure to take the USA job in the summer – the good news is we’re on home soil where, buoyed by the most passionate fans in the WSL, the Reds always step out of the West Stand tunnel with real belief, no matter the opposition. We’ve only lost once in our last 22 games at LSV, and while Chelsea have had more joy here than any other opposition throughout our six-year history (three wins, one draw and zero losses), there’s nowhere else we’d rather be facing them. United have had some famous wins here where we’ve really dug deep to overcome fellow big-guns Arsenal and Manchester City in crunch games. Now’s the time to finally add Chelsea to that list.

A second LSV draw against the Londoners would result in extra-time – as we needed to get past Brighton at this stage of the FA Cup last year – with penalties to follow should the scores still be level after 120 minutes. Hold on tight, it could be a tense one!

FA CUP FOCUS

A closer look at today’s early tie...

With Tottenham and Leicester competing in the semi-finals for the first time today, it’s a massive afternoon for both teams, with the sense of occasion only heightened by it being played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

After coming from behind to beat Manchester City on penalties in the last round, Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn described it as a “wonderful feeling” to reach the last four. As for the Foxes, Jutta Rantala was their quarter-final hero as they won at Liverpool – the Finnish forward netting twice in a 2-0 victory. It came just a day after Jennifer Foster took charge in an interim capacity following the suspension of Willie Kirk, and after Kirk’s exit was confirmed on 28 March, the club announced that Foster, assisted by first-team coach Stephen Kirby, would remain in the dugout until a permanent replacement was named.

Both clubs’ best FA Cup campaign before this season was a quarter-final exit (Spurs in 2020 and 2021; Leicester in 2021). The teams drew 1-1 at the King Power in November’s WSL meeting, while Spurs edged a 1-0 win when the sides last met in the league, at Brisbane Road as recently as 17 March.

Matilda Vinberg scored the only goal when the teams last met

An impressive win at Brighton took us through to the semis

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REDS REPORT

BY JOE NELSON

TIMELINE OF ALL THE RECENT ACTION AND NEWS

Miyazawa and Galton returned to action, with Leah adding our fourth goal (pictured)

4 UNITED

Turner 57, Toone 60, 65 Galton 90

1 EVERTON

Snoeijs 10

Women’s Super League

14 DAYS AGO

Leigh Sports Village, Sun 31 Mar

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: Reds recover from an early setback to comfortably get back to winning ways.

RIGHT-BACK IN THE TEAM: When the line-up was announced, Aoife Mannion’s inclusion was met with a loud cheer, as she made her first start of the season following injury. Aoife looked solid on the right of defence, having stepped in to play that role following Jayde Riviere’s withdrawal through injury during the Manchester derby.

TURNER GETS US BACK ON TRACK: Everton held a half-time lead through Katja Snoeijs following a defensive mix-up but as the game neared the hour mark, Millie Turner, fresh from her England call-up, rose high at the back

post to head home from Katie Zelem’s corner. The goal seemed to calm the Reds, while deflating the visitors.

LANDMARK FOR TOONE: Just three minutes later, Ella Toone put us ahead with a low finish from 20 yards, making her the first player to reach 50 goals for the Reds (turn the page for more on that). Five minutes later, Tooney turned home Lisa Naalsund’s centre to take her tally to 51 and provide clear daylight between the two teams.

RETURNING REDS: Leah Galton and Hinata Miyazawa both came off the bench to make their first appearances since suffering their respective injuries, and it was the former who rounded off the goals. Deep into injury-time, Galton hit a trademark left-footed finish beyond Courtney Brosnan to cap a sweet afternoon – well, second half – against Brian Sorensen’s Toffees.

LEAPFROGGING LIVERPOOL: The three points ensured Marc Skinner’s side moved back into fourth place in the WSL table, overtaking local rivals Liverpool. We’re six points behind third-placed Arsenal, but the Gunners do have a game in hand, at home to Bristol City at 6.45pm today.

AFTER ELLA BECAME THE FIRST-EVER RED TO REACH 50 GOALS (AND THEN PROMPTLY SURPASS IT!) IN OUR LAST FIXTURE, WE CRUNCH HER NUMBERS... 158

FIRST UNITED GOAL

v Aston Villa away in our first-ever league game (on 68 minutes, to make it 12-0)

Toone has 11 goals against the Foxes (although nine came in just two games!) Number

OUR CAPTAIN KATIE ZELEM LEADS THE RALLYING CALL AHEAD OF TODAY’S HUGE CUP ENCOUNTER, WHILE ALSO DISCUSSING HER ENGLAND CAREER, JOINING THE PFA BOARD, LINKING UP WITH LISA NAALSUND IN MIDFIELD, AND BREAKING A WSL RECORD...

We’re at home. We have our fans. We’ve got to be brave...

You might not know this Katie, but your corner against Everton to set up Millie’s goal means you now hold the all-time WSL record for set-play assists, with 17 [see p21]. Quite a stat... That is a nice stat! I had no idea. Set-pieces are an important factor for the team, especially over last year and this year when we’ve won a lot of games based on them. That’s something I’m really proud of. I pride myself on delivering set-pieces with high quality. And then it’s about the girls in the box finishing them off – and I still think there should have been a few more than that number!

How much of your consistency with them comes down to relentless practice, especially when you were young, or is it more of a natural thing?

Oh, practice makes perfect, 100 per cent. You’re not going to get every one right. But if you’ve got an eight-out-of-10 chance of it going where you

want it every time and it being a high-quality ball, there’s definitely a better chance of your team scoring. It doesn’t happen by accident. It’s something that when I was younger I practised a lot – whether it be ball striking, ball placement, corners, penalties, free-kicks... and it’s something I practise a lot now. I can see that it’s paying off.

It was great to see you follow Ella Toone in reaching 150 appearances recently. After nearly six years back at the club where you were previously a youth-teamer, you seem prouder than ever to lead the team you love… I think 150 games for any team would be a proud moment. To stay consistent, and stay fit, for that time over six years is a huge achievement, and also for Tooney especially considering her age [24]. And what makes it even more special for both of us is that it’s for our childhood club.

INTERVIEW: CHARLIE GHAGAN

It’s somewhere we both spent most of our childhood. So to reach that figure for the team you support and love, it makes it even better.

You had a lovely photo with your family after receiving a ‘150 games’ framed shirt on the pitch. Do they still attend most games? They’ve barely missed one of my first 150. That’s so special, knowing that every time I’m playing I’ve got them in the stands supporting me. They always sit in the same place, and it’s not just my family. There’s a little crew. My family and Millie’s family are close and come to away games together to support both of us. My family are my biggest inspiration. My dad often gets all the plaudits because he was the one that used to play [as a goalkeeper for Macclesfield Town]. I always get honest feedback from my dad. But my mum is a huge inspiration too. I’m so happy they’re able to follow my dreams and support me everywhere I go.

Lisa Naalsund’s seen a fair bit of game time lately alongside you in midfield. How impressed have you been with her impact? She chipped in with a brilliant assist for Ella against Everton… I’ve really enjoyed playing alongside Lisa. At the start of the season, the midfield was a bit more rotational, whether it be with Hayley, Hini or Lisa. They’ve all got brilliant assets and bring something different. The second half of the season, Lisa’s come into her own. She looks confident and I think we complement each other well. Her mobility in midfield, how she can get up and down the pitch – she’s powerful, really bringing something to the team that connects the midfield between me and Tooney. Lisa’s always got the energy to get around and she’s chipped in with some key goals, like against Bristol, and some assists too.

Moving on to today’s semi-final, much is made of our poor record v Chelsea, but we’ve certainly had our moments against them haven’t we – the challenge is maintaining that over the full 90. As you said after the Arsenal loss, “we have to be perfect in the big games”. I think that’s definitely the difficulty. When you’re facing the biggest teams, you’ve got to be perfect for the whole 90 minutes. If you switch off once,

Showing her composure on the ball as the Reds kept cool heads to battle back against Everton two weeks ago

THERE WILL BE NERVES FOR THIS ONE, KNOWING IT’S A ONE-OFF GAME TO REACH A FINAL. BUT THAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE GOT TO EMBRACE

you can be punished. In the FA Cup final, in that first half, if we’d taken our chances, it could have been two or three-nil. We need to make the most of moments like that and keep working on them. Our record v Chelsea isn’t what we’re after, but some of our performances have been, and slight tweaks could have seen results go the other way.

You’ve barely missed a kick in our 11 games to date against Chelsea – is there one that sticks in the mind as being the most frustrating?

The FA Cup final for me. It’s the one game I really look back on and I’m frustrated about. To play like that at Wembley in our first final, we came flying out the blocks and fine margins changed the game. That and the consistency of Chelsea, to make the most of that Sam Kerr chance when it came.

FULL NAME

Katie Leigh Zelem

DATE OF BIRTH

20 January 1996

PLACE OF BIRTH

Failsworth, Greater Manchester

YOUTH CAREER

Manchester United (2004-13)

SENIOR CAREER

2013-17 Liverpool, 52 games, 12 goals

2017-18 Juventus (below)

22 games, 6 goals

2022- Manchester United 155 games, 32 goals

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

England: 12 caps, 0 goals

In this programme we look back on the narrow Conti Cup semi-final loss here in 2020 [see p24], when Hannah Blundell and Lauren James had a great battle – but for opposite teams then... They are two great players. Lauren James has been unbelievable for Chelsea this year, when they’ve been missing other big players especially. I think she’s the one we need to try and keep quiet in the game. But Hannah has had great games against her previously and is so consistent. You always know what you’re going to get with Hannah.

Do you prep any differently for a cup tie of this magnitude? And are pre-match nerves stronger when it’s a one-off game like this? I don’t do anything differently. It’s important to develop a pre-match routine, and that just happens over time. It’s a bit of trial and error for younger players. I’ll always say to them, find what works for you because everyone’s different. There will be nerves for this one, especially knowing it’s a one-off game to reach a final. But I think that’s something you’ve just got to embrace. Nerves can be a good thing as long as they’re channelled in the right way. We’ve got to be brave playing Chelsea. It’s at our home ground. We have our fans. We’ve got to channel all that positivity.

Playing a semi-final at home is obviously good for us, but as attendances across the women’s game continue to rise, would you be in favour of bringing back the old FA Cup tradition of playing the semis at neutral club grounds?

Zelem has been impressed with Naalsund’s energy in the middle of the park

When Zel was an ‘Old Lady’!

I guess from a fan perspective, a neutral ground would be better. It would be exciting. But in this case, no, I’m quite happy! We enjoy playing at Leigh and we’ll have more fans than them. But if we were on the receiving side of an away draw, this answer might have been a bit different.

Making the England team is more competitive than ever right now. While you must have been disappointed not to be named in the latest squad, you must have been pleased for Millie? Yeah, the squad is more competitive than ever. A lot of people are playing well, and you can’t really argue with that. I think the newer girls that have come into midfield, be it Jess Park or Grace Clinton, are both having really good seasons. I’m really happy for Gracie. We all knew in training last year she was going to be incredible. And she’s got that game time and really come into her own. Obviously I’m disappointed, but I’m going to keep working hard to try and get back into the team. That’s all I can focus on. But I’m so happy for Millie. I’ve known her a long time. If you were to ask anyone, we bicker like sisters, but no matter what, I’ll always have her back and stick up for her. And I’m so happy she’s getting her moment now. I’m happy for her dad too, who goes to every game. It’s an amazing moment for Millie and her family.

MILLIE AND I BICKER LIKE SISTERS, BUT NO MATTER WHAT, I’LL ALWAYS HAVE HER BACK. I’M SO HAPPY FOR HER

You spoke this time last year about believing you wouldn’t make the World Cup squad – but then you were selected. That must help keep things in perspective ahead of the 2025 Euros?

Yeah, that is what I keep telling myself. I didn’t go to the April camp before the World Cup, then I actually started a game in Australia, and I’ve got a silver medal to show for it. So you’ve got to keep perspective. That’s definitely something I’ve learned as I’ve got older, that things change so quickly in football. You’ve just got to stay prepared at all times to give yourself the best chance of getting back in. I’m pretty open that is my aim and that’s what I want to do. So I’ll keep working hard.

Finally, you joined the PFA Players’ Board last summer – how have you found that role? It’s really interesting, you get a totally different perspective of things. If I can help make changes off the pitch to better the women’s game, that’s something I’m keen to do. You’re involved in things you wouldn’t normally ever hear about. So it’s a great insight and an exciting time to be on the board with the other members. Danielle Carter [ex-Arsenal, now at London City Lionesses] is the other female representative and she’s incredible. She inspires me every time we meet, for her resilience and the ideas she brings.

Katie knows we’ll need to stay focused for the full 90 minutes today if we are to beat the current FA Cup holders

Alongside Jess Carter at the World Cup, with the pair set to be club rivals today

DXC supports the Reds on and off the pitch connecting with fans and the community through technology. Discover more in the Manchester United App.

PINPOINT DELIVERY unitedwerisewithexpertise

WHEN IT COMES TO SET-PIECE ASSISTS, OUR SKIPPER NOW LEADS THE WAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WSL...

KATIE ZELEM 17 ALEX GREENWOOD

Be it from free-kicks or corners (and not including the two WSL corners that went straight into the net in 2022!), Zel knows who to aim for, with her assist count from such deliveries overtaking the WSL record in our last game, when she found Millie Turner to head home against Everton.

For Birmingham, Notts County (left) and Reading, the current Rangers manager was an expert set-piece assister, regardless of where the versatile player lined up for her team. Having retired from playing in 2021, her record held for another three years.

The ex-Red often pushes on to strike the dead balls for Manchester City, and she’s only two behind Zel when it comes to teeing up team-mates.

A real figurehead for women’s sport these days, how Carney loved to chip a ball in for Birmingham (2011-15) and Chelsea (2015-19).

Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal and Reading all benefited from Fara’s assists from set-plays (as did England across her record 172 caps).

Data provided by statsperform.com, covering all WSL seasons (2011-present)

HANNAH BLUNDELL

THE FINEST OF MARG I N S

SIT WAS JUST OVER FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THE REDS AND THE BLUES MET AT LEIGH SPORTS VILLAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME – AN ABSORBINGLY TIGHT CUP CONTEST WITH MUCH AT STAKE...

We’ve been here before, of course. A cup semi-final against Chelsea, Leigh Sports Village playing host, and Hannah Blundell doing her utmost to stop Lauren James in her tracks (just not for their current clubs).

It goes without saying that today we’ll be hoping for a better outcome than the 1-0 loss in that first cup contest – and maiden LSV meeting – between Manchester’s Reds and London’s Blues. The semi-final tie was played on a Wednesday evening in late January 2020, around the time we were all increasingly intrigued about news of a lockdown in Wuhan, China, but in spite of the full-time score, this game was arguably the one that got away against Emma Hayes’s side – the only English team we’ve faced that we’ve yet to beat. Yes, we would draw against Chelsea to kick off our 2020/21 WSL season behind closed doors (by which time the term ‘lockdown’ was so prevalent, Collins Dictionary was soon to name it its Word of the Year), but the Conti Cup meeting eight months prior saw Casey Stoney’s side put a performance that really did deserve more. Some big chances not

WORDS: CHARLIE GHAGAN

taken, plus a spot of bad fortune – including one very debatable decision – ultimately denied us a first cup final appearance, which would have been quite something in just our second season as a team. “We came through it in a very difficult place – I’m proud of the players for that,” was the relieved reaction of Chelsea boss Hayes post-match, while Katie Whyatt, writing for The Telegraph, summarised: ‘Hayes will know it could have easily been a different story had United been clinical when it mattered most.’

The timing of the fixture – as well as falling on the same night as a Manchester men’s derby (also a League Cup semi), it was a fifth game in a row at LSV that January – led to a disappointing turnout under the floodlights here, with the 1,044 in attendance being our second-lowest gate of that term – but those snuggled up in the West Stand in their biggest of winter coats would have sensed opportunity as the contest began.

The visitors were without new star forward Sam Kerr (just three weeks after her debut), as well as key playmaker Ji So-yun – the pair both away on Olympic qualifier duty for their countries – while

IT WAS A BLATANT, OBVIOUS PENALTY –JESS IS THROUGH ON GOAL, ONE ON ONE. WHY WOULD SHE GO DOWN? – CASEY STONEY

the Reds looked sharp and focused from the first kick, perhaps spurred on by the frustrations of a narrow FA Cup exit to Manchester City four days earlier (losing 3-2), or indeed the Conti Cup semi from the previous year, when the Championship Reds appeared overawed in the opening exchanges – “we lacked shape and discipline,” according to Stoney – against Arsenal. Looking back to that 2-1 loss in February 2019, defender Amy Turner insisted the fledgling Reds had “learned lessons” from it.

This time around we were far more confident out the blocks, keeping possession well, while Chelsea struggled to penetrate a composed back four of Amy Turner at right-back alongside namesake

Full-backs Smith and Harris battle to win the ball from Emily Murphy as the Reds seek a late leveller

THE LINE-UPS

to the bar before it was eventually hacked clear. Soon James was added to the yellow-card list, ‘LJ’ lunging into a tackle just as the first half drew to a close. As the players walked back to the tunnel, big cheers from the Barmy Army acknowledged the encouraging 45 minutes of football they’d just witnessed from those in red.

While James, ably supported by Jess Sigsworth and Lizzie Arnot, were all working so hard in attack, the chances hadn’t been frequent in the first half, and as the action resumed there was a growing sense that the tie could come down to one big chance, with Zelem’s dangerous set-pieces potentially being a key source.

And when another Zel free-kick from distance was only half-cleared to Arnot, the winger so nearly headed it high into the goal with Telford stranded, only for Magdalena Eriksson to clear from inside the six-yard box.

Millie, Abbie McManus and Kirsty Smith, with keeper Mary Earps as vocal as ever behind them.

United’s first chance came in the seventh minute when a surging run from Jackie Groenen – up against her former club – found Lauren James, who dragged her attempt wide of the post from just outside the 18-yard box. Maintaining that control and the lions’ share of possession, it wasn’t too long before United had a first effort on target, after James held the ball up well and won a free-kick just inside the visitors’ half. Katie Zelem provided the long delivery into the box, finding the head of McManus, and her effort flew into the hands of Carly Telford in the Chelsea goal.

The half-hour point was marked by two cautions in as many minutes – the first to Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle, before McManus joined her in referee Elizabeth Simms’ book, for a late challenge on Erin Cuthbert. The subsequent free-kick would lead to Chelsea’s first real chance, with Millie Bright’s header forcing Earps to tip the ball on

The hour mark passed, and soon there were sighs of disbelief from the United dugout when Sigsworth, having fought her way into the box from out wide, appeared to be bundled over by the arms of Bright, but the referee waved play on.

“A blatant, obvious penalty,” Stoney would later insist. “Jess [below] is through on goal, one on one. Why would she go down?”

To compound the frustration, moments later Chelsea struck a devastating blow on the counter to take the lead. It was Erin Cuthbert who did the prep work, racing through into the Reds’ half on the left, and after her ball into the box found Maren Mjelde – scorer of the game’s only goal when the sides met in the WSL at Kingsmeadow two months earlier – the Norwegian showed her class by striking home from an acute angle after Arnot had forced her wide.

Straight from the kick-off, James had a golden chance to level, but blasted over from a Groenen delivery, and Stoney was soon looking to her bench for some fresh legs. With no Leah Galton to call upon due to injury, the boss introduced Jane Ross into a wide position, the Scot replacing Arnot,

UNITED ARE SO DIFFICULT TO BREAK DOWN. THEY’RE ORGANISED, EFFICIENT AND AGGRESSIVE – EMMA HAYES

and Ross did plenty to help us respond as United were forced into chasing the game. Inevitably, the contest opened up, with Cuthburt going close, and when future Blue James took aim from the edge of the box in stoppage-time, Chelsea’s Blundell did what we’ve seen so many times since 2021, raising her foot at the perfect moment to block the ball. It would prove to be our last opportunity.

The full-time whistle saw visiting arms raised in relief, with Hayes – who despite being a critic of the Conti Cup was still lacking a winner’s medal from it to complete Chelsea’s domestic set of honours – knowing they’d had one of the toughest tests of an unbeaten 2019/20 at that point.

“They’re so difficult to break down,” said Hayes of United. “They’re organised, efficient, aggressive.”

The Telegraph’s Katie Whyatt was equally complimentary of the Reds, observing: ‘In that final 10 minutes where Lauren James and [Jane] Ross were so dangerous from wide, Chelsea were left holding their breath.’

As for Stoney, the Sigsworth penalty shout was still very much on her mind. “It would have

been very different if we’d have been given it,’ she lamented. “That’s a game-changing moment and a potential goalscoring opportunity.”

Nevertheless, it was a performance to be proud of, with fine margins going against us. But making those fine margins count, even when you’re not at your best, is what the very top teams do, and Chelsea have done that as well as anyone in the women’s game in recent years, as we’ve since witnessed in the Women’s FA Cup final.

As matchwinner Mjelde admitted that night after Chelsea progressed to a first Conti Cup final (which they’d go on to win 2-1 against Arsenal at the City Ground): “It was probably not the best performance but I don’t really care about that. It’s about winning games.”

As wretched as our overall run has been against Chelsea, it would be fair to say we’re probably due a spot or two of good fortune against them. And roared on by a far bigger and more boisterous crowd than one Wednesday night in January 2020, who’s to say we can’t finally shake off a prolonged case of the Blues this afternoon?

The disappointment was understandable, but every Red could hold their head high

The stands were far from packed, but the West Stand made plenty of noise

Blundell played a key role in keeping out her future club

FAN GALLERY

Flora loves her MUW season ticket and is so happy to have met so many of her heroes.

Friendships made at LSV! Olivia and Darcey have become firm matchday pals here.

‘Happy birthday to the best dad and a lifelong Red’ says Gabriella

Here’s Ruby, who is a huge Lisa fan.

Stu, Grace, Nieve, Ste, Graham, Melissa and Holly are among those filling up this great fan photo.

Harriet was over the moon to see her favourite player Safia back when she went to visit the training ground recently.

Happy birthday Harper, love Grandma, Grandad, Sarah and all at MUWSC from the coach trips.

Happy birthday to Lily, from her mum Adele –and everyone at United!

CHELSEA

Chelsea’s hopes of finishing 2023/24 with a Quadruple ended a fortnight ago with the narrowest of defeats to Arsenal in the Conti Cup final. But, as Emma Hayes’s era-defining reign draws to a close, that loss will only sharpen their focus when it comes to the three remaining trophies still within their grasp.

As well as today’s FA Cup semi, the Blues face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final this month and continue to battle Manchester City in search of a fifth consecutive WSL title.

When it comes to today’s competition, Chelsea have dominated it in recent years and are out to reach a seventh final in 10 seasons. But with a packed fixture list across four competitions since Christmas putting a strain on the squad at times, they’ve needed to rely on some gritty performances to see them through to the latter stages again.

A week after being rocked with the news that Sam Kerr will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury, Chelsea needed extra-time against West

Ham in the fourth round. The Hammers led until Mia Fishel’s 70th-minute equaliser, before the depth of Hayes’s bench shone, with substitute Aggie Beever-Jones adding to Erin Cuthbert’s goal in the additional half-hour.

High-profile January signing Mayra Ramirez then scored the only goal nine minutes before the end when second-tier Crystal Palace visited Kingsmeadow in the fifth round. Hayes, who would make only one change when her team faced Manchester City in the WSL four days later, described it as a “cup game in every way” that required Chelsea to “find a way to win”.

By her admission, the Blues were “sluggish in everything” against Everton in the quarter-finals, sandwiched between a Conti Cup semi against City and a big WSL clash with Arsenal. Yet it finished with another tight win, this time secured by substitute Catarina Macario midway through the second half, leading the boss to reflect: “This is what you have to do... grind results out.”

The Londoners line up at Walton Hall Park ahead of their quarter-final win against Everton

WORDS: JAMIE SPENCER

NATHALIE BJORN

With club captain Millie Bright ruled out since November through injury, Bjorn was recruited in January to boost the centre of the defence. The Sweden international – a bronze medal winner at two World Cups – is already proven in English football after two-and-a-half years with Everton. Injured against her old side during the quarterfinal, she could be back in contention today.

QUARTER-FINAL HERO

CATARINA MACARIO

QUARTER-FINAL LINE-UP

v EVERTON (AWAY), 10.03.24

NUSKEN BJORN

RYTTING KANERYD PERISSET

EMMA HAYES RECENT ARRIVAL

After suffering a torn ACL in June 2022, the Brazil-born USA international joined Chelsea from Lyon during her recovery last summer and scored just six minutes after coming off the bench in her long-awaited debut last month. Her subsequent winner against Everton in the last round of the Cup came even quicker – three minutes after she joined the action – in only her second Blues appearance.

THE KNOWLEDGE

● Sanne Troelsgaard

Nielsen (Reading) and Viviane Asseyiare (West Ham) are the only players to have scored v Chelsea in their last seven FA Cup ties.

MUSOVIC KIRBY

CANKOVIC INGLE CUTHBERT

Soon to depart for the US women’s national team, Hayes has a minimum of eight – and no more than 10 – games left at the club she has built into a ruthless winning machine since arriving in 2012. The 47-year-old has taken her team into nine FA Cup semi-finals ahead of today, suffering only three defeats at this stage – one of those came against Marc Skinner’s Birmingham in 2017.

● The Blues’ first FA Cup triumph was also their first major trophy – in 2015, when they beat Notts County Ladies in the maiden Wembley final.

● Chelsea have since won the Cup in 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023 – only Arsenal (14), Southampton Women’s FC (8) and Doncaster Belles (6) have won it more times.

SUBS USED: CHARLES, JAMES, MACARIO, LEUPOLZ, HAMANO

Helping our young people tell their stories.

FOLLOW ALONG

Breaking barriers

Workshop focuses on equality and inclusion

The club’s Foundation and adidas have come together to stop gender barriers in sport and promote equality and inclusion in a workshop for Foundation participants.

The adidas Breaking Barriers Project is a commitment to breaking down barriers for women and girls across Europe by working directly with non-profit sports organisations, empowering local leaders and coaches, and providing the sports industry with the necessary tools to lead change.

One of the tools includes the adidas Breaking Barriers Academy, an online gender equity training programme designed to make sport equal for women and girls.

Throughout a day of insightful delivery at Old Trafford, over 100 young athletes – including students from Foundation partner high schools – accessed Breaking Barriers Academy workshops led by women’s health experts from Well HQ in collaboration with adidas, to discover the importance of menstrual cycle education and awareness in sports.

Professional athletes and coaches joined each session for a Q&A on the topic. Former Red Siobhan Chamberlain, current Red Phallon Tullis-Joyce and adidas Breaking Barriers Champion Leanne Bates joined the groups to share their own experiences within the game. Siobhan said: “It’s great to see that young girls get the opportunity to learn about menstrual cycles and see it’s okay to talk about it, it’s not a taboo subject. It’s good that these girls now know more about how their bodies work, what they can use to help them and how they can manage it in sport – and more importantly, who they can talk to.”

Over 30 students from the partner high schools were invited to the event, from different sporting backgrounds in Greater Manchester. Isla, from Middleton Technology School, felt empowered by the topics discussed. She said: “As a woman, I feel like I’ve got this, and I can achieve anything. Many people usually think that periods are something people don’t want to talk about, but I think you understand your cycle to help keep you going, keep the adrenaline, and let it improve your game.”

Find out more by visiting breakingbarriersacademy.com

Over a hundred young athletes attended the Old Trafford event

Chamberlain was one of those to share her own experiences

WERE THESE FIXTURES FROM LAST SEASON IN THE FA CUP OR CONTI CUP?

IDENTIFY THESE HIDDEN UNITED STARS FROM OUR FA CUP QUARTER-FINAL WIN OVER BRIGHTON

CAN YOU NAME THESE OTHER BLUE TEAMS WE’VE FACED, BASED ON THEIR (PARTLY HIDDEN!) BADGES?

20.07.22

28.01.24

MANY HAPPY RETURNS, MAYA!

JOINS UNITED FROM BRIGHTON

CELEBRATING OUR MUCH-LOVED DEFENDER AHEAD OF HER 22ND BIRTHDAY NEXT WEEK

17.09.22

SCORES TWO ON HER DEBUT

15.11.22

WINS FIRST ENGLAND CAP

MAKES 50TH APPEARANCE FOR UNITED

29.08.23

NAMED IN 2022/23

PFA TEAM OF THE YEAR

●

TOP SCORERS, 2023/24 SEASON

Right: Millie Turner’s headed equaliser against Everton saw her reach double figures for United goals (nine of which have come from her head)

Left: last season’s Golden Boot winner Rachel Daly scored her seventh WSL goal of 2023/24 as Villa drew with Leicester

● WSL TOP ASSISTS, 2023/24 SEASON

AND GOALS, 2023/24

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Match programme contact: MUWomenfamily@manutd.co.uk

For ticket information visit: ManUtd.com/Tickets

COMPETITION HISTORY

We begin with previous Cup contests, dating back to the start of 2019...

Who is the Reds’ all-time leading scorer in the FA Cup, with seven goals? Hint: she’s still at the club…

United’s biggest-ever FA Cup victory was a 6-0 away triumph in April 2021, against which team?

Which club did both United’s women’s and men’s teams face en route to reaching their respective FA Cup finals last season?

Name the three players who started United’s first-ever FA Cup tie, v Brighton in February 2019, who could also feature today.→

EURO CHAMPS

CURRENT RUN

Name the current Reds who have won the national cup competition in each of these countries…

We finish off with three questions on our latest charge to the last four of the Cup...

Who has provided at least one assist in each of United’s three FA Cup ties so far this season?

Academy graduate Olivia Francis was named on the bench for the first time against which of our 2023/24 FA Cup opponents? → 8 9

Two of the clubs faced in the FA Cup this term – Brighton and Chelsea – are among the three teams we’ve played on at least two separate occasions in the competition. Name the other.

Manchester United Home 23/24

MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN

CHELSEA WOMEN

Jess Carter

Melanie Leupolz

Catarina Macario

Lauren James

Guro Reiten

Ashley Lawrence

Fran Kirby

Eve Perisset

Nicky Evrard (GK)

Maren Mjelde

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd

Sam Kerr

Niamh Charles

Erin Cuthbert

Hannah Hampton (GK)

Kadeisha Buchanan

Jelena Cankovic

Jorja Fox

Ann-Katrin Berger (GK)

Aggie Beever-Jones

Mayra Ramirez

Nathalie Bjorn