Manchester United’s Pressing Concern: Champions League Challenge Looms Large
Manchester United’s women’s team have secured a spot in next season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers a massive achievement that shows how far they’ve come. But with that success comes a big question: are they really ready for the step up? Manchester United’s Pressing Concern isn’t just about performance it’s about resources. And if co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe doesn’t put serious investment into the squad, their European adventure could be short-lived. Manchester United’s Pressing Concern.
Over the weekend, United pulled off an epic comeback against rivals Manchester City, coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in front of over 31,000 fans at Old Trafford. That single point was enough to secure third place and a Champions League qualifying spot their first European campaign since 2018/19. But this also means they’ll now be competing across multiple fronts: the league, domestic cups, and now Europe. And to handle that kind of load, they’ll need more depth both in quality and numbers. Manchester United’s Pressing Concern.
Here’s where the concerns begin. United currently rank last in the league for average minutes given to substitutes just 18 minutes per sub. That screams of a thin squad. Former Matilda Ashleigh Sykes, speaking on The Women’s Football Wrap, said Ratcliffe must invest in both the squad and facilities if United want to make a real go at Europe. She even pointed out the irony: the women are heading to the Champions League while the men sit 15th in the league. Manchester United’s Pressing Concern.
To make matters worse, Ratcliffe recently admitted his focus was on the men’s team because “the women’s is smaller.” He didn’t even know who Katie Zelem, the women’s team captain, was last season. That mindset is what could hold United back. Yet studies show that investing in women’s football is smart business Deloitte estimates that global women’s sports revenue will top $1.28 billion this year, up 300% in just three years. And for every $1 invested, clubs get over $7 back in value.
Sykes said it’s a “no-brainer” for Ratcliffe to spend. Either invest now or overhaul how the squad is managed. But doing nothing isn’t an option. The comeback against City proved their grit. Goals from Grace Clinton and Melvine Malard were crucial, showing that this squad has fight in them something they’ll absolutely need in Europe.
With one game left a clash with Arsenal United have one more chance to climb even higher. A draw would seal second place for the Gunners, but all eyes will be on whether United can keep proving the doubters wrong. As Sykes said: “They’ll need to bring that same level of fight in Europe. It’s going to be hard.”
