Ex-Manchester United Women midfielder Irene Guerrero says she cried in bathroom during training sessions

Former Manchester United Women midfielder Irene Guerrero says she cried in the bathroom during training sessions while at the club last season.

Guerrero joined United from Atletico Madrid in September 2023 having been a member of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad a few months earlier.

Following her debut in October, she suffered a knee injury forcing her to miss the first part of the season. From her return in January, however, she struggled for game time and did not start once, making only three Women’s Super League (WSL) appearances and just seven across all competitions.

“I remember days where, mid-training session, when you see that each week you’re repeating exactly the same thing, going to the bathroom and having to let it out, cry, wash my face and go out to train as if nothing had happened,” Guerrero, 27, told Marca when asked about her time at United.

“I reached a very important, very hard mental limit and I tried to make it so that nobody would notice it. Obviously, the team-mates who had spent time with me knew me and knew that something was wrong with me, but I tried as much as possible to make it so that my personal situation didn’t affect the group.

“I’d arrive home, I’d be with my partner and I’d say, ‘I want to go home, I don’t want to be here, I’m not enjoying it, I’m not happy and I feel as if it’s not worth everything I’ve sacrificed to come to another country. The reward I’m getting is zero for all the work and effort I’m putting in on a day-to-day basis.”

Guerrero left United in July and moved to Mexican side Club America, with fellow Spain international Lucia Garica, captain Katie Zelem and goalkeeper Mary Earps also departing the club over the summer.

Last season, United won the FA Cup for the first time after beating Tottenham Hotspur in the final but finished fifth in the WSL, 15 points behind third-placed Arsenal.

It was a testing campaign overall for United and in March reported that the club had previously missed out on signings because of delays at senior level, in January 2023 reneged on a verbal deal agreed to keep former striker Alessia Russo, who later joined Arsenal, and there was a lack of clarity regarding budget and strategy.

Sections of the United fanbase also voiced their opposition to Marc Skinner’s management during the campaign and reported in January that a small group of supporters were warned about singing, ‘We want Skinner out’ after players and staff were said to have become uncomfortable with the chanting.

Skinner signed a one-year contract extension following the FA Cup win but has still been subjected to boos at matches this season. United have won three and drawn three of their opening six WSL matches leaving them fifth in the WSL.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Manchester United, UK Women's Football

2024 The Athletic Media Company