Man United within touching distance of champions Chelsea, believes Le Tissier

Yahoo

17-05-2025

By James Taylor
Maya Le Tissier believes her Manchester United side are within touching distance of regularly going toe-to-toe with Chelsea as they aim to retain the Adobe Women's FA Cup.
United secured their first major trophy with a 4-0 win over Spurs in last year's final, but next Sunday's showdown with the WSL champions presents a tougher challenge.
Marc Skinner's side have just one win in 15 meetings with Chelsea, including a 1-0 defeat in the 2023 FA Cup final and losses in both league games this season.
But after securing a return to European football with their league performances this season, Le Tissier feels they are moving in the right direction when it comes to closing the gap.
Le Tissier said: 'We're so close to competing with them and we have been competing with them really well.
'Set plays have been the difference in those games. If we tidy that up and keep defending how we are, pressing how we are, I'm sure the mentality will be right on the day, as it has been for a few games now.
'We've experienced both sides of it. Obviously we lost in 2023 and won last year, so we've felt the emotion of both games and that's great for us with the experience that we have now.
'We played them last Wednesday, so we know we need to put in a very good performance to beat that team, but we really feel like we can do that.
'We've got a really special group here, and working as a team we can definitely do it. We'll draw on them emotions and experiences, not just the wins, but the losses as well.'
The 23-year-old will lead the team out at Wembley for the first time, rounding off her first year as captain following Katie Zelem's departure.
Despite the added pressure of the role, Le Tissier has embraced the responsibility and said she has become more comfortable as the season has progressed.
'Playing a final at Wembley - it's what you dream of,' Le Tissier said.
'We want to play under the highest of pressure and that's when the real players show up. You're on the world stage as well,
'It's just good fun and the whole day as well, with all your family there.'
United will be boosted by the strong form of their 28-year-old American goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who has kept 13 clean sheets in 19 WSL appearances this season.
After joining from NWSL club OL Reign in 2023, Tullis-Joyce spent her first year at United as a backup.
But following Mary Earps' departure for Paris Saint-Germain, she firmly established herself as the club's number one and earned her first senior cap for the United States in April.
Barring injury, she will cap her stellar season between the sticks with a start at Wembley, having been an unused substitute in last year's triumph.
Tullis-Joyce said: 'I'll prepare myself the same way that I have this season.
'Last season I was definitely just a sponge trying to absorb and learn as much as I could.
'I've found my way throughout this season. I'll keep it the same. Just take it moment by moment, letting me focus on my breath and focus on the play in front of me
'It's really fun to have a bit of a bigger role in the journey and make it to the final and see what it's all about now playing. And I am so excited to be with my teammates.
'The chemistry is what makes it so special to get to this moment.'