How Manchester United turned around their WSL form under Eva Olid

Manchester United have transformed their early-season form under head coach Eva Olid, winning their last three Women’s Super League matches after a difficult start to the campaign.

After going winless in their opening three league fixtures, United won their next three WSL matches before earning a 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday. Elisabeth Terland's late equaliser secured a point after Khadija Shaw had given City the lead, ending the visitors' perfect start to the league campaign.

The result extended United's unbeaten run in the WSL to five matches and lifted them to fourth in the table, while City dropped to second behind Chelsea on goal difference. For Eva Olid's side, the performance offered further evidence that their early-season struggles are giving way to greater consistency.

But what has changed at Manchester United to spark such a turnaround?

How Eva Olid restored Manchester United's defensive foundations

One of the most significant changes has been Olid's decision to bring United back to the strengths that previously made them difficult to play against.

The Spanish coach arrived in the summer hoping to introduce a more possession-based approach, encouraging her side to play on the front foot and take greater risks in attack.

However, United initially struggled to adapt to the demands of the new system.

Defeats against London City Lionesses and Chelsea exposed problems at both ends of the pitch, with United recording fewer than 40% possession and just two shots on target in each match.

Their 5-0 defeat against Chelsea was particularly damaging, highlighting the need to reassess their approach.

Rather than continuing to force the new system, Olid recognised that her players were attempting to do too much too soon. She instead encouraged them to rediscover their defensive organisation while gradually incorporating elements of her preferred style.

That approach began to show signs of improvement in their 1-1 draw against Arsenal, providing a foundation from which to build.

Manchester United's opening six WSL results

After collecting just one point from their opening three league matches, United secured nine points from their next three.

The statistics behind Manchester United's WSL turnaround

The statistics from United's first three league matches compared with their next three highlight the scale of their progress.

Statistics compare the opening three WSL fixtures with the following three, based on the reported figures

United recorded 197 passes ending in the final third across their opening three matches, compared with 529 against West Ham, Liverpool and Charlton Athletic.

Their shooting numbers also increased dramatically, rising from 10 attempts to 42 across the two periods.

Defensively, conceding just two goals in their next three league matches represented a significant improvement after shipping eight in their opening three.

How honest conversations helped rebuild confidence

While the tactical adjustments have been important, Olid has also highlighted the work behind the scenes as a key factor in United's revival.

Following the heavy defeat against Chelsea, the squad held important discussions about what needed to change. Olid acknowledged that the team had been navigating a transitional period as players adapted to her expectations and she learned more about the group.

The discussions helped establish a stronger understanding between the players and coaching staff, with both sides recognising the importance of finding a balance between the new system and the squad's existing strengths.

United's response has also been reflected in individual performances. Vice-captain Ella Toone, who missed out on England selection for the first time under Sarina Wiegman, scored in the 3-1 victory over Charlton Athletic.

Summer signing Andrea Medina has also developed into an important member of the squad, while captain Maya Le Tissier returned from international duty with renewed energy after impressing for England.

The international break gave Olid valuable time to reflect on the opening weeks of the campaign, reorganise her coaching staff and work with the players on the training pitch.

Jose Herrera joined as assistant coach alongside Gavin Beith, who had previously worked with Olid at Hearts. The additional time together allowed the coaching staff to clarify responsibilities and establish a more consistent working structure.

What Manchester United's 1-1 derby draw revealed

Manchester United's 1-1 draw against Manchester City offered a clearer indication of the progress made under Eva Olid after their difficult start to the season.

United started brightly at Leigh Sports Village and created opportunities to take the lead, with Elisabeth Terland going close and Jess Park striking the crossbar after the break. Their performance showed greater attacking intent and an ability to trouble the side that had won its opening six WSL fixtures.

City eventually broke the deadlock in the 66th minute when Khadija Shaw scored on her 100th WSL appearance. United, however, continued to compete and were rewarded late on when Terland converted in the 89th minute to secure a share of the points.

The result ended City's perfect league start and extended United's unbeaten WSL run to five matches. It also suggested that Olid's side are becoming more difficult to beat while retaining the attacking ambition she wanted to introduce at the beginning of the campaign.

There is still work to do before United can consistently challenge the league's leading sides, but the derby provided encouraging evidence that the team's tactical adjustments and improved confidence are translating into performances against strong opposition.

Rather than simply recovering from their opening defeats, United now have a platform on which to build as the season progresses.