Skinner compares Malard to United legend Cantona with similarity in persona and dealing with pressure situations.
Manchester United striker Melvine Malard likened to Eric Cantona by Marc Skinner.
Melvine Malard, a striker for Manchester United, has been compared by Marc Skinner to Eric Cantona. As he considered the outstanding play Malard seems to have had prior to Thursday’s pivotal Women’s Champions League qualifier, the head coach likened the Frenchwoman to the team’s cherished former forward.
Malard’s double helped Manchester United defeat London City Lionesses 5-1 in the Women’s Super League on Sunday, despite the fact that they are trailing 1-0 going into the second leg against the Norwegian team Brann.
Skinner praises Malard
Malard had four goals from the first two games, making him the WSL’s top scorer. That matches her WSL total from the previous season, and Skinner called the 25-year-old, who is in her third season with the team, a “very talented player.”
Assessing Malard’s improvement he said: “She now understands the language happily, so it’s easier to translate quicker in-game for her, so she can get instruction, take it on board, and perform it.
“I’d also say, Mel is probably the most ‘Manchester United’ player I’ve ever met. And what I mean by that is, if I look and I go back – and this is a big shout – to the Eric Cantona kind of personalities; she has that personality. She can carry pressure moments and do it with a smile. And I think that psychology is what stands her apart this season.”
Man United’s Champions League hopes
United will advance to the next league phase of the Champions League if they defeat Brann in Friday’s draw at 11 a.m. BST. Of the 18 teams, Arsenal and Chelsea are the WSL’s confirmed representatives.
Millie Turner, a defender for United, will not play because of a knee injury he suffered on Sunday. According to Skinner, the lesion was not to the medial collateral, lateral collateral, or anterior cruciate ligaments.
We’re just looking at the knee cap,” he said. “She’s got another meeting towards the end of this week. But it’s not what people probably feared, which is good news, but once we’ve had this second opinion, we’ll discuss what it looks like.”