Manchester United Women were beaten 5-0 by Chelsea at the Progress with Unity Stadium, their second league defeat in as many matches. Head coach Eva Olid said the side must learn from the setback while continuing to develop the attacking identity she wants to build.

It has been a difficult start to the season for United. The Red Devils lost their opening match 2-1 to London City Lionesses and then suffered the heavier defeat against Chelsea. The two results have left the team searching for an early response as the season develops.

Olid’s message after the mauling

Speaking to the club’s media after the Chelsea match, Olid acknowledged the challenge of implementing an attacking style against strong opposition. She explained that her side want to attack, but must also be prepared to defend when facing difficult teams.

Olid’s central message was that United cannot build the identity she wants by changing their approach whenever the opposition is strong. In her view, the players need to keep working through the process in order to gain the confidence and consistency required to play that way.

She also described difficult matches as an opportunity to identify problems clearly. Rather than treating the Chelsea result as a reason to move away from the intended style, Olid said the team should use the experience to improve, learn and continue.

The manager’s assessment was that the campaign is only two matches old. Her focus is on helping the players grow from the mistakes made in those opening fixtures and on improving both with and without the ball.

More on Olid’s attacking philosophy and how she wants United to play

What the numbers say about the start

The opening results underline the scale of the task. United have conceded seven goals across their first two league matches and have not yet taken a point. The results are clear, while Olid’s response has been to stress development and consistency rather than a change of direction.

Opponent Result Match detail London City Lionesses Lost 2-1 Opening league match Chelsea Lost 5-0 Played at the Progress with Unity Stadium

Olid has said that persistence with the attacking approach is necessary if United are to establish the consistency she is seeking. That is the manager’s stated approach after the first two matches, with the players now tasked with applying the lessons from the defeats in the next test.

The Chelsea game also illustrated areas Olid wants her team to improve. She pointed to the importance of retaining possession for longer, avoiding unnecessary turnovers and finding spaces to create chances. Her broader assessment was that United can improve in and out of possession.

Arsenal next, and no easy way back

United’s next league match is away to Arsenal next Saturday evening. The fixture provides an immediate opportunity to show the reaction Olid has called for after the Chelsea defeat.

Arsenal represent another demanding opponent, and United will travel there after two losses from two at the start of the campaign. Olid’s emphasis remains on learning from the opening matches and continuing the work on the team’s style, even when the opposition makes that task difficult.

For United, the immediate objective is to turn the lessons identified by their head coach into a more competitive performance. The result against Chelsea cannot be changed, but Olid has made clear that she expects the side to take what they can from the game and move forward.

Check out Manchester United Women’s upcoming fixture schedule

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