The WSL is back, after a two week break, and the game everyone wanted to see was the clash of the defending champions and one of the teams hoping to wrestle their title off them. Chelsea Women and Manchester United Women as a game gave us some good moments, and was full of action, but there were also areas where we felt disappointed by the display. In this tactical analysis, we will look at the tactics that Chelsea used to counter Manchester United’s preferred way of playing, as well as the mistakes the visitors made in attack and defence, and the changes Casey Stoney made in the second half.
Lineups
Chelsea Women made four changes from the side that beat Reading Women last time out, with manager Emma Hayes looking to rotate her team to keep players fresh. Defender Hannah Blundell, Wales midfielder Sophie Ingle, who had played in defence in that game, midfielder Guro Reiten and former Liverpool Women winger Niamh Charles all dropped to the bench. In came Reiten’s fellow Norway international Maren Mjelde at right-back, whilst captain and Sweden defender Magdalena Eriksson returned at centre-back. In midfield, Scotland international Erin Cuthbert moved to the wing, with South Korea international Ji So-yun coming into the holding midfield area, and Denmark star Pernille Harder also started, playing behind Australia striker Sam Kerr.
Manchester United manager Casey Stoney, meanwhile, made three alterations of her own. Captain Katie Zelem and strikers Jessica Sigsworth and Tobin Heath moved to the bench, with Heath there for show rather than for playing, after picking up a small injury. Into the team came Hayley Ladd, who partnered Netherlands international Jackie Groenen in the midfield, whilst Heath’s fellow USA star Christen Press was handed the centre forward role, and Scotland forward Kirsty Hanson started on the right wing.
