Eva Olid’s Manchester United have had a difficult start to her tenure, taking just one point from their opening three Women’s Super League matches. Defeats by London City Lionesses and Chelsea exposed problems in translating her possession-based, attacking philosophy to the highest level, although a 1-1 draw with Arsenal and a 10-1 League Cup victory over Sheffield United suggested signs of improvement.

Olid’s United try to build from the back using narrow midfield structures, with players moving centrally to create numerical overloads and then open space out wide. This differs from Marc Skinner’s more symmetrical approach, which kept attacking midfielders higher and used wide triangles involving full-backs, midfielders and wingers; Olid’s system may offer greater control in central areas but has so far struggled against organised opponents and left some wide options unused.