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Metro
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Grace Clinton bullish ahead of FA Cup final: 'Chelsea aren't invincible'
Grace Clinton's first experience of a Women's FA Cup final as a player last year was a memorable one. Just not in the way she would have hoped. On loan at Tottenham for the season, Clinton had played an invaluable role in helping guide Robert Vilaham's side to the competition's final for the first time in the club's history. A day out at Wembley should have been the reward for a fine season which had also seen the midfielder deservedly named PFA Women's Young Player of the Year. But with her parent club, Manchester United, also getting through to the final, Clinton was instead condemned to a seat in the stands, cup-tied and confused as she watched Tottenham fall to a 4-0 defeat. 'It was such a bizarre feeling, just weird,' she reflects to Metro. 'I'd worked all season long to get to the final with Tottenham to try and create this opportunity to do something special at a club that doesn't get to those finals so often. To then just sit in the stands and watch it play out was hard to swallow. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. 'But I also had all my friends and people that I've grown up with winning the trophy with United. I've never felt anything like it – it was frustration, it was happiness, it was disappointment. All of those things at once.' Returning to United last summer, the 22-year-old has put that disappointment behind her and continued her remarkable rise at both club and international level. Deployed in the heart of Marc Skinner's midfield, Clinton scored an impressive eight times in 21 WSL games to help United finish third and qualify for the Women's Champions League. A well-taken header against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals also helped punch the defending champions' return ticket to Wembley. Thankfully for Clinton, there will be no watching from the stands this time around. 'It's been a big season for me. Obviously, coming back from Tottenham, there was an expectation to be able to deliver the same performances,' she said. 'I've enjoyed that challenge, but I'm also still learning so much every game around an amazing group. Reaching the Champions League and another FA Cup final is amazing and our levels have been so high. 'Every game feels like a cup final when you're at the top of the table and competing for those places, but Wembley is a really special way to end the season.' But while United will return to Wembley on Sunday as the defending champion, they will also go into the match as heavy underdogs up against five-time champions Chelsea. Sonia Bompastor's side are eyeing up a famous domestic treble, having already won the WSL title and League Cup. The Blues ended the league season unbeaten and have only lost twice all season when they became unstuck in their Champions League semi-final with Barcelona. Chelsea's 1-0 victory over United at the end of April was the win that secured them the title, but Clinton insisted the manner of her side's performance on the night has only buoyed their hopes of pulling off an upset this time around. 'Everyone knows how good Chelsea are and can be,' she admits. 'They've won six titles in a row for a reason, but I feel like it was good that we played them a couple of weeks ago. 'It felt like we were the better team and that gave us a lot of confidence to know that we should have beaten them. 'The magic of the cup is that it's just one game, 90 minutes, and I feel like we're in a really good place at the moment. Chelsea are unbeaten, but they're not invincible and I believe in the squad that we've got.' Such confidence is indicative of a young sportswoman who has taken everything about her rapid rise firmly in her stride. It's perhaps also why, only days out from her latest trip to Wembley, Clinton makes the trip down to London to help kick off the first McDonald's all-girls Fun Football Day at Hanwell Town FC, still aware of how important her presence can be in helping more young girls into the sport. 'When I was younger, I played on boys' teams until I joined an academy,' she added. 'It's why events like this are so important. It's nice for it to be all girls and to encourage them to play because when I was younger, I didn't have access to that.' More Trending It could yet be a big summer for Clinton, still. A key part of Sarina Wiegman's England squad over recent international breaks, she will no doubt play her role in a Lionesses squad that has its eyes set on retaining the European Championship in Switzerland this summer. Such an opportunity has arrived quickly at Clinton's door, but one gets the sense it would take far more than a maiden international tournament on foreign soil to faze this impressive young footballer. 'The biggest thing for me is to be excited by the challenges ahead,' she ended. 'Whether it's United at Wembley or England at the Euros, every game just gets me excited.' Grace Clinton kicked off the first McDonald's all girls Fun Football Day in preparation for a big summer of women's football. With up to 300,000 hours of free football coaching sessions to be provided to kids this summer across the UK. Get involved in a session near you and sign up at For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Ian Wright wishes Arsenal had Man Utd star in their team: 'I love him' MORE: Crystal Palace star forced to miss jubilant FA Cup celebrations after injury MORE: Pep Guardiola called a 'bald rat' in brutal taunt following FA Cup final defeat
Forbes
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Manchester United Women Forced To Begin New UWCL Season In August
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 04: Marc Skinner, manager of Manchester United, during the Barclays ... More Women's Super League match between Manchester United FC and Manchester City FC at Old Trafford on May 04, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images) After securing a Champions League place last week, Manchester United were today condemned to playing in the Second Qualifying Round meaning they have to begin their new season early. Their failure to defeat Arsenal today ensures that Marc Skinner's side will finish third in the Women's Super League and have to negotiate two rounds of qualifying to reach the lucrative group phase of the competition. The first of those will commence eleven days before the start of the new domestic league season. Manchester United will enter the competition at the Second Qualifying Round. To progress they will have to come through a four-team mini-tournament with two matches to be played on August 27 and 30. The opening game will come just thirty-one days after the final of the UEFA Women's Euro in Basel, Switzerland. Ten of Manchester United's squad could be involved in the final stages of that competition, which is seen as the definitive climax of the current season. Potentially those players - such as England starters Ella Toone and Grace Clinton - could be asked to begin training for their new season almost immediately. Last month, I asked Marc Skinner about the permutations. He conceded that the club may be forced to react to fluctuating circumstances, depending on when nations are eliminated from the European Championship. "As you can imagine, it's a sports science nightmare! You're working off the Euros, you're working off when they come back in, giving them rest. Whether we start early, whether we start late. I think there was twelve different entry points of players from all the different teams that are in the Euros." That Second Round qualifying tournament is also to be played at a single venue, the home of one of the four competing clubs. Manchester United could apply to stage the mini-tournament at their Leigh Sports Village home, but equally they could be forced to travel anywhere in Europe depending on the whims of the draw which will take place ahead of the UEFA Women's Euro on June 16. While the format of the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage has been reshaped to allow an extra two teams to compete in it, the qualifying stages have been expanded, giving some of the continent's league champions an extra round to come through. Non-champion qualifiers coming through the so-called League Path, such as Manchester United, enter at the Second Round. Two years ago, Manchester United qualified for the Champions League for the first time after finishing second in the league. On that occasion, they only had one hurdle to overcome. However, lacking any European pedigree, they were unseeded in the qualifying round draw and paired with former finalists Paris Saint-German. A draw in the home leg was followed by defeat at the Parc des Princes, ending their maiden European campaign before the group stage. Manchester United players greeting the supporters after the UEFA Women's Champions League Round two ... More - 2nd leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in Paris, France on October 18, 2023. (Photo by Ibrahim Ezzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images) This season, Arsenal have become the first third-placed team in history to reach the final of the UEFA Women's Champions League where they play defending champions FC Barcelona in Lisbon later this month. By finishing second in the Women's Super League, Arsenal have ensured they have given their players an extra two week's rest before the start of the new campaign as they will enter next season's Champions League at the Third Qualifying Round which begins on September 11. If Arsenal win the UEFA Women's Champions League in three weeks, they will qualify for next season's competition as 'Title Holders' and go straight into the group stage, bypassing the qualifying rounds and saving their players the hardship of two extra matches. To reach the final this season, Arsenal have had to play a record 14 matches in the competition. For Manchester United to emulate them next season, they would have to play a minimum of 14, and perhaps even 16, games depending on where they finish in the new 'Swiss-system' group stage. The first concern for Manchester United will be negotiating the Second Qualifying Round and how that affects their pre-season planning and transfer policy. While the prospect of playing in the UEFA Women's Champions League will potentially entice many more players to join Manchester United, as they found out two years ago, there is no guarantee of progression to the group stage. More pertinently, if they wish to have any new players available to take part in the Second Qualifying Round, they will need to register them with UEFA by August 21, less than four weeks after the end of the UEFA Women's Euro. With most international coaches unwilling to have their squad distracted by transfer negotiations during the tournament, it seems likely that Marc Skinner may have to set his deals in motion before the start of the tournament in July. Speaking to me last month, Skinner told me 'we have to design the squad ready to try and fit in with our situation at that point.'
The Herald Scotland
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Derby draw seals Manchester United a top-three finish as Lionesses move up
Grace Clinton got them back in it and Melvine Malard stepped off the bench to hit the equaliser. The Red Devils played the last 21 minutes with 10 players after Aoife Mannion collected a second booking, but held out. Melvine Malard grabbed the all-important equaliser for Manchester United (Martin Rickett/PA) Champions Chelsea celebrated a 1-0 win over Tottenham, leaving them one more match against Liverpool to complete the entire WSL season undefeated. Sonia Bompastor named just two survivors from the team that guaranteed the title in midweek but it was still enough. Catarina Macario showed quick feet in the penalty box in the 35th minute and was felled by a combination of Molly Bartrip and Ashleigh Neville. She got back up to convert from the spot, with Spurs failing to muster a response. Everton took the bragging rights at Anfield with a 2-0 win over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. Games at Anfield = 5Wins at Anfield = 5Merseyside = blue — Everton Women (@EvertonWomen) May 4, 2025 Katja Snoeijs scored the opener after only six minutes and Karen Holmgaard doubled the advantage at the back post with 20 gone. Liverpool laboured but went no closer than a Taylor Hinds shot against the crossbar. The Reds have not won the fixture in the league since 2019. There were two goals in added time as relegated Crystal Palace salvaged a 2-2 draw against Leicester. Shannon O'Brien thought she had won it for the Foxes late on, only for Abbie Larkin to swoop eight minutes beyond the 90. Earlier, Hannah Cain had put Leicester ahead before Annabel Blanchard levelled from the penalty spot. Palace's top-flight spot will be filled next season by London City Lionesses after they held off promotion rivals Birmingham to seal the Championship title with a 2-2 draw. Isobel Goodwin and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah gave the capital side a two-goal cushion and they held on for the point they needed despite Birmingham running them close with an 86th minute equaliser. Aston Villa made it four wins in a row with a 3-2 success at West Ham. Both sides netted twice in an action-packed first half before Chastity Grant's decisive finish won it for the visitors.
Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Manchester United secure Women's Champions League spot with derby draw
Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - May 4, 2025 Match officials, mascots, Manchester United and Manchester City players walk on to the pitch before the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff REUTERS Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - May 4, 2025 Manchester City's Lauren Hemp in action with Manchester United's Jayde Riviere Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff REUTERS Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - May 4, 2025 Manchester United's Melvine Malard celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff REUTERS Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - May 4, 2025 Manchester United's Grace Clinton scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff REUTERS Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - May 4, 2025 Manchester United's Hinata Miyazawa, Maya Le Tissier and Millie Turner celebrate after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff REUTERS Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - May 4, 2025 Manchester United's Millie Turner with teammates celebrate after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff REUTERS MANCHESTER ((Reuters)) -Manchester United survived the second-half expulsion of substitute Aoife Mannion to grab a 2-2 Women's Super League draw against Manchester City on Sunday that sees the Red Devils qualify for next season's Champions League at the expense of their cross-town rivals. With one game left, United are third in the table on 44 points, four ahead of City and one point behind Arsenal, who have a game in hand. Champions Chelsea wrapped up the title on Wednesday after the Gunners slumped to an unexpected defeat to Aston Villa. City's stuttering season looked to have received a much-needed shot in the arm when they took a 2-0 lead against their bitter rivals, but Mannion, who had come on as a 29th-minute substitute for Jade Riviere, teed up Grace Clinton to pull a goal back before the break. Melvine Mallard levelled for the home side in the 68th minute, five minutes after coming on for Celine Bizet, but United had to endure a nervy final 20 minutes when Ireland international Mannion was shown a red card after picking up her second yellow two minutes later. Despite a late onslaught from the visitors, United held on to secure their spot in Europe's premier club competition next term, and they can now turn their attention to defending the FA Cup title they won last season when they take on Chelsea in this year's final on May 18. In Sunday's Merseyside derby, Everton eased to a 2-0 win away to Liverpool to leave them in eighth place in the table on 23 points, with Liverpool sixth on 25. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Manchester United vs Chelsea LIVE: Women's Super League latest score, goals and updates from fixture
The new Women's Super League marks the start of a new era for reigning champions Chelsea, with long-serving boss Emma Hayes having departed in summer to start a new adventure with the USA Women's team. Last year they just about did enough to claim the title on goal difference ahead of Manchester City, while Arsenal will again hope to make it a three-horse race for the WSL title. Meanwhile Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham will hope to progress after further rebuilding this summer. Crystal Palace were promoted to replace Bristol City in the top flight, while on a wider note, the league is now under the management and operation of a new organisation set up to lead women's football towards further growth and progression, with Nikki Doucet overseeing both the WSL and Championship in a new phase for the game. Manchester United vs Chelsea Offside, Chelsea Women. Mayra Ramírez is caught offside. 30 April 2025 20:33 Manchester United vs Chelsea Attempt missed. Leah Galton (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Celin Bizet Ildhusøy with a cross. 30 April 2025 20:31 Manchester United vs Chelsea Attempt blocked. Grace Clinton (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. 30 April 2025 20:31 Manchester United vs Chelsea Attempt saved. Melvine Malard (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Hinata Miyazawa. 30 April 2025 20:31 Manchester United vs Chelsea Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Phallon Tullis-Joyce. 30 April 2025 20:30 Manchester United vs Chelsea Attempt saved. Mayra Ramírez (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lucy Bronze. 30 April 2025 20:30 Manchester United vs Chelsea Attempt missed. Grace Clinton (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Gabrielle George with a cross following a corner. 30 April 2025 20:29 Manchester United vs Chelsea Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Niamh Charles. 30 April 2025 20:28 Manchester United vs Chelsea Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 30 April 2025 20:27 Manchester United vs Chelsea 30 April 2025 20:26
