Manchester United’s Jess Park revealed that head coach Marc Skinner had given the team some advice at half-time as they beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
First-half goals from Melvine Malard and Fridolina Rolfo got the job done, with Safia Middleton-Patel impressive in goal.
Asked by broadcaster Disney+ what Skinner had said, Park replied: “Just give everything on the pitch and calm down, because we did have spaces that we didn’t really realise.
“He said it was like we were playing with a hot potato sometimes so we just needed to calm down a little bit, and we found our feet in the second half and managed to come back.”
“Jess Park is outstanding”
And Disney+ pundit Ellen White had plenty of praise for Park in particular.
“She is becoming a world-class talent, building and finding those beautiful pockets of space and linking up with her team, and then moving into the space, recognising where the space is, and driving her team up the pitch and the creating beautiful opportunities.
“She was outstanding this evening.”
“Melvine Malard loves scoring goals”
Goalscorer Malard described the match and the win as “historic”, adding that she knew that the club wanted to play in and ultimately win the Champions League.
“Football is not easy every week here in England, and it’s good,” she said. “We made the difference today and now we just need to keep going and look forward.”
And White was impressed by Malard’s performance as well.
“She just loves scoring goals,” she said. “Her energy is infectious.”
Marc Skinner: It was a team performance
Skinner was impressed with all three goals that were scored on the night, saying afterwards: “I thought all three goals were lovely in different ways.
“Mal’s individualism down the side to break in the box and finish [and] Carmona’s top-corner screamer is fantastic.
“But then the team goal [for Rolfo’s header], I think it sums up [the performance].”
Manchester United will now be looking to take that form directly into the weekend as they travel across the city to face rivals Manchester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Saturday, 15th November.
