Lift a trophy and perceptions change.
That's the viewpoint of Manchester United boss Marc Skinner ahead of Sunday's Women's FA Cup final showdown against Tottenham Hotspur.
Skinner, 41, has guided the Red Devils to a second successive season after defeating last season’s winners Chelsea 2-1 in a shock semi-final triumph. Yet, the achievement can risk looking lonely when juxtaposed with United’s stark regression from title challengers last campaign to 12 points off the Champions League places a year later. .
The decline has brought unbridled scrutiny on Skinner, who is out of contract at the end of the month. Chants of 'Skinner Out' from an increasingly disillusioned fanbase have been a staple of the matchday experience since the start of the season, a spectre Skinner has accepted as "part of the fabric" of managing a club like United.
And the under-pressure boss believes delivering FA Cup glory could atone for a campaign on the backslide amid the final weeks of his tenure.
"We would have added silverware to Manchester United, I think that’s successful wherever you are as a club,” Skinner said before Sunday’s showpiece. “We can add silverware for our fans. That will be hugely important going forward.”
He added: "There are things we will learn from this season that I know the answers to & we can fix in the summer, I have no doubts.”
Skinner's sentiments echo those of Erik ten Hag. His opposite number in the Manchester United men's dugout has experienced similar outcries for his departure during a miserable season which has placed any shot of European football next season in jeopardy.
United men currently sit eighth in the Premier League table but have reached a second successive FA Cup final under Ten Hag, a feat which the manager vehemently believes should be considered a triumph.
The Dutch manager was apoplectic after claims that United should be embarrassed after blowing a 3-0 lead to Championship side Coventry City in the semi-finals and limping to a penalty shoot-out victory.
Whether silverware would salvage Ten Hag's position at the helm of United looks unlikely, but a first piece of silverware for United Women under Skinner could certainly offer a case for Skinner to remain at the helm. Earlier this year, Skinner said contract talks were ongoing between him and the hierarchy. He added that he wanted to remain as manager and "build success".
Defeating Spurs would also mark the first piece of silverware since the Ineos takeover, something Skinner emphasised as significant for the future. "It's hugely important. To add trophies to Manchester United would be huge," he said.
"But regardless of that, the desire to win is there & Ineos coming in has only reflected that even more. It will be a really exciting time."
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