While Sonia Bompastor and Renee Slegers have been taking all the Women's Super League plaudits this season, Marc Skinner has been quietly going about his business, leading Manchester United to second in the table. (More Football News)

Since Jim Ratcliffe's takeover of United, there has been some discontent among fans surrounding the direction of the women's team. Last year, star players Mary Earps and Katie Zelem voted with their feet by seeking pastures new. 

More controversy followed in pre-season when Ratcliffe and INEOS decided to move the female players out of their bespoke building at Carrington to accommodate the men's team, while their training ground undergoes major redevelopment. 

The only sign of stability in this tumultuous period saw Skinner sign a one-year contract extension in May 2024, containing an option for an additional year. That was a reward for leading United to their first-ever major domestic trophy, the FA Cup, last term. 

As United garnered attention of the wrong kind, it would have been understandable if the 2024-25 campaign had been one of transition, rather than trophy challenges.

However, the Red Devils have made light of those difficulties to enjoy a promising campaign, with Skinner now hoping to build on their FA Cup success and compete on all fronts. 

Fortress Three teams are undefeated at home this season in the #BarclaysWSL  pic.twitter.com/6VoZZ7c1js

Shades of 2022-23?

United's women's team have been on an incredible journey since their 2018 reformation, promptly winning promotion from the FA Women's Championship in their very first season under Casey Stoney.

They have been in the WSL ever since and have not looked back. Skinner took over in July 2021 and in the 2022-23 season, he led them to their highest-ever finish, as they were runners-up to Chelsea by just two points.

It was a remarkable feat, with United becoming the first side since 2014 to break into the WSL's established top three. The leading positions had been occupied by Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City in various combinations for the previous seven seasons until United forced their way in.

It could have been even better for United, who led the WSL standings for five weeks from March 25 to May 21, when they dropped to second. 

Across 22 WSL games in 2022-23, United scored 56 goals (only Chelsea had more with 66) from just 36.03 expected goals (xG). The Red Devils fired off 355 shots that campaign, with a 15.77% conversion rate.

Of those goals,todaybet 29 came from big chances (they had 46 overall, giving them a 63.04% conversion rate).

These two teams are meeting for the first time in the tournament in group stage.

United were also magnificent at the other end of the pitch. They conceded just 12 goals across the whole campaign, the fewest of any team in the league, and that was not a case of positive variance or good luck, as their actual goals conceded tally was largely in line with their 13.34 expected goals against (xGA) from 180 shots faced.

They averaged 2.5 goals per game and conceded just 0.5 per match in 2022-23, with Leah Galton and Alessia Russo – who scored 10 goals apiece – among their star performers.

United are putting together a similarly impressive campaign in 2024-25. In 13 games this season, they have scored 24 goals from 19.44 xG, having 171 shots in the WSL (14.04% conversion rate).

They have already faced 140 shots worth 14.27 xGA but have conceded just five goals – the fewest in the league. They are averaging 1.8 goals per game and conceding a measly 0.3.

United have won each of their last five WSL games, keeping a clean sheet in four of those victories. Since the beginning of last season, 79% of United's WSL wins have been accompanied by clean sheets (15/19) – a greater proportion than any other ever-present side in the division.

They also remain unbeaten at home in the WSL this season, winning four of six games (two draws), and they have a chance to avoid defeat in their opening seven games of a top-flight campaign for the first time.

Like the vintage of 2022-23, United's class of 2024-25 are tough to beat and clinical with their opportunities. Chelsea may be the runaway leaders, but a second-place finish ahead of Arsenal and City – and European qualification – is a realistic aim.

According to the Opta Supercomputer, United have a 29.1% chance of finishing second (up from just 7% at the start of the season), while the probability they finish third is 41.2% (up from 18.6% ahead of the season). They finish fourth in 29.3% of projections.

Marc Skinner – underrated and underappreciated? 

Skinner's reign has not been entirely smooth, with the United boss attracting stern criticism from supporters at times. 

His contract renewal – like that of since-departed men's manager Erik ten Hag – came amid uncertainty over his position, after United finished fifth in the WSL, ending 2023-24 with back-to-back losses.

Skinner also came under fire from fans before Christmas, despite his new-look United team being unbeaten in the league. On that occasion, he was accused of defending comments from Ratcliffe that suggested the success of United's women's team was less important than that of the men.

But is any on-field criticism of Skinner justified and what do his numbers say, compared to others to have held top jobs in the WSL?

"We did the game properly." Marc was thrilled with the way his players applied themselves against Wolves #MUWomen ubet63