Man Utd Women manager Marc Skinner defends training facilities

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has said external criticism of his women’s side’s training facilities “could not be further from the truth”.

Criticism rose when the women’s team were moved out of their Carrington training site and into temporary buildings to make way for the men’s first team.

Skinner’s squad spent the summer training at the Football Association (FA) headquarters, St George’s Park, before heading to Marbella for a pre-season camp.

“What is reported on the outside honestly could not be further from the truth. It really couldn’t,” said Skinner.

“[Carrington] wasn’t ready for Manchester United Women four years ago. The club did fantastically well to spend on the new facility to get new pitches.

“It just wasn’t built and we grew so quickly. When we moved to Carrington, it took time.

“The training pitches that we will have every day are better than St George’s Park. You would eat your breakfast off our pitches – they are incredible.”

Skinner criticised the words used to describe the temporary site and claimed the “best thing that could have happened” was changing facilities because it has brought them closer with the men’s first team on a regular basis.

“[People said] ‘We’re training in barracks’. We’re not training in barracks. We are training in a facility that has been built on site for our players.

“It has all been branded up. We have better access to the gym and the pool for recovery. You reported on it and it didn’t sound great. But it couldn’t be further from the truth.”

There has also been criticism of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group – which owns a 25% stake in Manchester United – and a lack of apparent involvement with the women’s team, most notably when they did not attend the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley last season.

But Skinner says sporting director Dan Ashworth and chief executive officer Omar Berrada have spoken to players and staff, showing “real energy”.

“They genuinely love women’s football and have a real burning ambition for it to be in the forefront of their direction. That will only improve,” he added.

“I know when the facilities are finished, we will only benefit from it. I can promise you that.”