Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner has defended the club’s commitment to the women’s team and described their move to portable buildings as “the best thing that could have happened” to his side.

The club drew widespread criticism after deciding to move the women’s team into temporary facilities for the entirety of the 2024-25 season to allow the men’s side to use their purpose-built training centre. During this time, the men’s building will undergo a £50 million renovation.

However, Skinner defended the club’s decision after branding the facilities “incredible”.

“We went to St George’s Park, which was a fantastic experience because we got to gel together,” Skinner said.

“But our training pitches that we train on every day are better than St George’s Park. Ours are newer so our pitches are better. You would eat your breakfast off our pitches – they are that incredible.

“We’re not training in barracks. We are training in a facility that has been built on site for our players. It has all been branded up today [Monday] and the girls will move into it tomorrow. From my perspective, everything is growing from there.”

Questions have been raised around the club’s plans for the women’s side since Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 25 per cent stake in the club last December, but Skinner defended the new regime.

“Dan Ashworth [sporting director] and Omar Berrada [CEO] have been fantastic and have both come in with real energy to speak to the group,” the 41-year-old added.

“I cannot tell you how personable and authentic those conversations were. They genuinely love women’s football and have a real burning ambition for it to be in the forefront of their direction.”

‘There are a lot of people that want Man United to fail’

Skinner revealed United captain Bruno Fernandes recently watched one of the women’s pre-season matches after the pair crossed paths in the car park, and added: “The best thing that could have happened was the changing of the facilities because now we are constantly walking past each other and speaking.

“Me and Erik [ten Hag] will speak more because we see each other more. It’s been great.”

After a fifth-place finish in the Women’s Super League last season, the summer has marked a period of change for United with a few high-profile departures including Mary Earps’s free transfer to Paris St-Germain and the loss of captain Katie Zelem to Angel City.

However, Skinner showed no signs of uncertainty or doubt about his mission this season after he confirmed his new leadership team with Maya Le Tissier as captain and Ella Toone her vice-captain.

“This season feels like we’re trying to build an impenetrable force again. We know there are a lot of people that want Man United to fail – it’s part of our game, it’s that tribal rivalry.

“But from my perspective, I feel that in order for us to be successful you need that spark and I believe that the leaders we have in place now will help us to do that.”

The 2024-25 Barclays WSL season begins on Friday, September 20, when Chelsea host Aston Villa.