Manchester United's new head coach, Eva Olid, has called on her squad to embrace an aggressive, attack-minded approach as she prepares for her first match in charge of the Women's Super League side.
The Spanish manager, who joins United after a spell at Hearts, will lead the team into the 2024-25 season opener away at London City Lionesses on Friday at 19:00 BST. She replaces Marc Skinner, who left the club earlier this summer, and inherits a squad that endured a relatively subdued transfer window compared to previous years — a factor that has fueled skepticism among fans about United's prospects of finishing in the league's top three.
Olid, however, appears unfazed by the doubts surrounding her appointment and the club's summer business. Addressing critics directly, she pointed to her track record at Hearts as evidence that transformation is possible even under difficult circumstances.
"It's normal, no? It's normal to have people doubting. I have felt the support a lot of too," Olid said. "People that followed me in the last years with Hearts know I made something impossible possible, so I believe in what we are going to do. It's not something you get in weeks but I believe with a little time you get impossible things."
The 2024-25 campaign will mark a significant tactical shift for United, with Olid intent on implementing a more expansive, front-footed style of play than what supporters saw last season. She has been explicit about her attacking philosophy, framing it as central to how she wants her side to approach opponents.
"My ambition is attacking football. I focus the gameplans on how we can hurt the teams. All teams have weaknesses we can exploit," she explained.
Despite the scale of the transition, Olid acknowledged that implementing her full vision from day one would be unrealistic, given the limited time she has had with the squad heading into the opening fixture. Instead, she has prioritized certain elements of her system that she felt could be introduced most effectively in the short term.
"This team will play the first match in the league and I want it to be as close [as possible] to what I want. The style of play is different to what we had last year," Olid said. "You can imagine it's not an easy task. What I did was put aside the principles of play that I thought was easier to change for the first match so we can compete."
The manager also stressed that the ambition to play more attractive, adventurous football has the full backing of the club's hierarchy, even if such an approach inherently carries greater tactical risk.
"The club wanted to play attractive football and be brave. We know that can have risks but the club support me in that. They signed me for that," she said.
United's pre-season form has done little to quiet the doubters, but Olid appears confident that her methods, given time, will bear fruit. Friday's trip to London City Lionesses will offer the first real indication of how her ideas translate onto the pitch, and whether her players are ready to embrace the bold, front-foot identity she is determined to build at Old Trafford.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.