MARC SKINNER believes Gareth Taylor will fight tooth and nail to get his side back to their best form after the Man City boss was quizzed on his future.
Skinner’s Manchester United side will take on Taylor’s players in the Conti Cup days after Chelsea crushed City at home in the league.
And the result- which was one of their worst-ever losses in the top-flight- has led to questions on whether the Academy Stadium chief should consider his position.
Skinner, 38, said: “Gareth has been in the game a long time, so he understands when you’re at a club like Manchester City, you’re expected to get the results that continue to push you in the direction you want to be.
“He believes in what he does, he believes in the football his players play, he will continue to fight for this team to get the best results out of them.”
Skinner also reckons WSL managers will come under increased scrutiny with the league’s historic, megabucks TV deal putting bosses and teams under a bigger spotlight.
A Nielsen Sports study predicted the women’s top-flight could be on course to attract a UK TV audience of 14.5 million.
This would make the league the nation’s fourth-most viewed domestic division.
The Red Devils boss added: “We (managers in the WSL) are in a position where we’re open to that scrutiny.
“We’ll always be open to opinions as long as it doesn’t become personal.
“I don’t think there’s a manager in the game that doesn’t want their team to win.
“And so long as everyone knows that, then we’ll always be open to opinions. We have to deal with that.”
Skinner also backed City aces Georgia Stanway’s and Alex Greenwood’s view that public opinions on WSL players and managers on social media should not evolve into online abuse.
The Leigh Park Village gaffer said: “I personally come off social media because, you as there is sometimes quite a lot of negativity on there.
“Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway did a really good interview where they spoke about scrutiny (of players via social media) becoming personal.
“I think as long as the focus is on the game strategy and football we are open to it.”
Skinner hinted United’s Conti Cup matches could see some of the club’s Academy starlets given some minutes with their Under-21 players having won their last four games in the academy league.
And the Red Devils boss has not ruled out the possibility of strengthening his side in January with his team vying for a Champions League spot.
Skinner added: “We will always look. A club like Man Utd cannot sit in the moment.
“It has to continue to try and push forwards. That includes players here.
“If the right players appear, then we will be looking to enter (the January transfer market). We need healthy competition.”
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