Eva Olid Sets Attacking Mandate Before Manchester United WSL Debut

Eva Olid has called for Manchester United Women to play with courage and an attacking mentality as she prepares for her first Women's Super League match in charge. BBC Sport reports that United open their season away to London City Lionesses on Friday, with kickoff scheduled for 19:00 BST.

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The Spaniard arrived from Hearts after guiding the Scottish club to its first league title last season. She replaced Marc Skinner, who stepped down during the summer, and inherits a United side beginning a change in playing identity while facing questions about whether it can challenge for a top-three WSL finish.

Olid said her game plans will focus on identifying and exploiting opponents' weaknesses. She acknowledged that the style she wants differs from the one United used last season and cannot be installed immediately. For the opening match, she has prioritized principles that could be changed quickly enough to make the team competitive.

The manager also accepted that a bolder attacking approach carries risk, but said the club supports that direction and appointed her to deliver it. According to BBC Sport, United's preseason was underwhelming and the club's relatively quiet transfer window added to doubts among supporters about the squad's ability to compete with the leading teams.

Olid responded to those doubts by pointing to her work at Hearts and expressing confidence in what United can build over time. She has been reunited with former assistant Gavin Beith, while the club is placing increased emphasis on developing young players as part of its new approach. She has also indicated that January recruitment could target players suited to her attacking system.

Friday's trip will provide the first competitive measure of how much of that plan has already taken hold. Olid has not claimed the transition is complete; instead, her comments set out the intended direction and the immediate task of making United ready for the opener. The result will begin, rather than settle, the assessment of the club's new era.