As two embattled coaches locked horns at the home of Manchester United’s women’s team, it seemed against all odds that United would triumph over the perennial champions.
For not only have United had an underwhelming season in the league where ‘Skinner out’ banners have become the norm, they had also never beaten Chelsea before yesterday – losing 10 of the 11 times they had met in all competitions prior, drawing the other.
But a lot can change in a fortnight, as Emma Hayes has found. After getting knocked out of the Continental League Cup and becoming drawn in on a controversial debate on ‘male aggression’, the cracks were starting to show on the departing manager’s swansong season, and United could feel it.