New Manchester United boss Eva Olid has challenged her squad to be “brave” and embrace an attack-minded approach this season.
The Spaniard will make her Women’s Super League debut on Friday, when United visit London City Lionesses in the season opener (19:00 BST).
Arriving from Hearts, Olid succeeds
Marc Skinner, who departed in the summer.
A managerial change and a more muted transfer window than many fans anticipated have sparked questions over United’s top-three prospects.
Responding to those writing United off, Olid said: “It’s normal, no? It’s normal to have people doubting. I have felt the support a lot of too.
“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.”
Olid has been consistent with her message to the players and, despite a mixed pre-season, hopes they can deliver on Friday.
“My ambition is attacking football. I focus the gameplans on how we can hurt the teams. All teams have weaknesses we can exploit,” said Olid.
“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.
“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 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.”