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Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has taken aim at Manchester United’s owners for failing to care enough about the women’s team.
Wright also questioned when Marc Skinner’s side would become a priority for the hierarchy.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have over the past few months come under criticism for their treatment of the women’s team. They were moved out of their training facility to accommodate the men’s side as the Carrington building undergoes renovations.
Ratcliffe himself acknowledged that the women’s team would become a priority for them only after the problems facing the men’s set-up have been fully addressed.
Wright, who has consistently been one of the biggest advocates for the women’s game, spoke on Crossways and pointed out, “When you hear murmurings of Man United saying ‘once we sort out the men’s, we’re gonna focus on the women’s’. When is that going to be? You look at the men’s and how far they are off it at the minute.”
“When are they actually going to take notice of the women? I genuinely believe, especially with how Man United Women are playing, they do not care. They genuinely do not care enough.”
The former England international also took a swipe at Skinner following his comments after United’s stalemate against Aston Villa last weekend.
The Reds started the WSL season with three wins but have since drawn their last three fixtures. At the moment, United are seven points off the top of the table.
Wright said about Skinner, “Unfortunately for him, the interview he did the other day didn’t stand him in good stead. What he’s saying, in respect of new players, the team gelling. He’s had this team for long enough now where they should be doing a lot better.”
“You talk about the four new players, [Celin] Bizet…she’s played in the WSL before, [Dominque] Janssen has been there before, [Elisabeth] Terland and then Grace Clinton who had to go to Tottenham to get herself better and in the England squad.”
“You listen to that interview, no plan B, no real structure of what they’re doing. They were playing against a Villa side that were bottom of the league and he’s talking about they got a good result, at home. This is why I was quite pleased to see Man United fans pull him up about that interview and how David Brent-ish it was for me.”
United are back in action on Sunday when they travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City.