New Manchester United Women boss Eva Olid says she is already feeling settled at the club after being impressed by her new players during pre-season.
Olid has taken charge of United during the summer and says the attitude and commitment of her new squad have helped her settle quickly.
The Spanish coach has taken charge of United during the summer and has already overseen two pre-season friendlies, as well as a training camp in La Manga.
With another friendly against Liverpool coming up, Olid has been using the opening weeks of her reign to begin putting her ideas into practice while getting to know her players.
For the new manager, pre-season is about more than simply getting results.
Instead, Olid wants to establish the foundations of a new identity at Manchester United, both on and off the pitch.
Eva Olid Begins Building Her Style at Manchester United Women
Speaking with the club's website, Olid explained that the opening friendlies against Leicester City and Newcastle United have been important in introducing new principles of play and her preferred style.
“The intention of these first two friendlies is to implement new principles of play. Also, to implement a new style of play, give chances for everyone to have minutes, like all the young players had minutes in the first and in the second match.”
Giving younger members of the squad opportunities has also been a key part of Olid’s early work.
Rather than focusing solely on her established players, the Spaniard has used the early stages of pre-season to assess the wider squad and give everyone an opportunity to demonstrate what they can bring to the team.
That should help Olid make decisions over her squad ahead of the competitive campaign, while also giving younger players valuable experience around the senior group.
Creating a New Identity On and Off the Pitch
For Olid, however, the work being done away from the pitch is just as important.
The former Heart of Midlothian boss has used the club's time in Spain to work on team-building and establish a clear sense of what she wants Manchester United Women to represent.
“Of course, we work principles of play, we work tactics, but we had important meetings about where we go and who we want to be.”
Olid believes having that clarity from the beginning will be crucial.
“It’s so important to have clarity before we start the league; what is going to be our identity as a team on the pitch and off the pitch.”
That emphasis on identity could prove particularly significant as Olid begins to put her own stamp on the Manchester United side.
Rather than simply introducing tactical changes, she wants the players to understand exactly what is expected of them and what the team is trying to achieve together.
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Eva Olid Already Feeling Settled at Manchester United
Despite only recently arriving at the club, Olid says she already feels settled, largely because of the response she has received from her players.
Much of that is down to the response she has received from the players.
“I feel settled because the players are being amazing, good attitude.”
The manager has been encouraged by their willingness to embrace her ideas and improve.
“They want to improve, they want to learn, they want to play with the ball and that helps me to feel part of this team already.”
For Olid, having players who are eager to learn could be key to successfully implementing her style.
The early stages of a managerial appointment can often involve significant changes, but the positive response from the squad appears to have helped create an encouraging atmosphere around the group.
Why Player Development Is Central to Eva Olid’s Approach
Olid also gave an insight into her own approach to coaching, making it clear just how much football means to her.
“I don’t have other things. Like I spend probably 24 hours every day in football, no? It’s my life, my lifestyle, and I give everything for the team and for the players.”
That dedication is something she wants to transfer directly into her work with the Manchester United squad.
One of her main priorities is ensuring that every player continues to develop under her management.
For Olid, coaching is ultimately about helping players become better footballers.
That focus on individual development, combined with her desire to establish a clear team identity, will be one of the key themes to watch as United move closer to the start of the new campaign.
Liverpool next for United
Olid will have another opportunity to assess her squad when Manchester United face Liverpool in their next pre-season fixture.
The match will provide another test for the new manager as she continues to experiment with her tactical ideas and work out the best combinations within her squad.
There is still plenty of time before the competitive season gets underway, but Olid's early comments suggest she already has a clear idea of the foundations she wants to build.
With the players responding positively, the next challenge will be turning that enthusiasm into performances when the season begins.
For now, though, Olid appears delighted with what she has found at Manchester United and is already looking forward to seeing just how far this group can develop.
