Marc Skinner urges 'rebellious' Manchester United to 'go through hell' in FA Cup final against Chelsea, Sonia Bompastor eyes 'perfect' end to season
By Ben Southby
Published 16/05/2025 at 19:19 GMT+1
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"You know you will have to go through hell to get the victory", said Marc Skinner ahead of Manchester United's FA Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday. The Red Devils are competing in their third successive FA Cup final and hope to retain the crown they won last season. However, Skinner knows he faces "the hardest team to come up against", who are looking for the "perfect" end to a historic season.
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Marc Skinner wants his Manchester United side to "go through hell" when they face unbeaten Women's Super League champions Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Sunday.
The Blues became the first team in history to complete an invincible WSL campaign last weekend, sealing their record-extending eighth title.
They will be hoping to reclaim the FA Cup this season after losing their crown to Man Utd last campaign, and Red Devils boss Skinner knows what he wants from his side as they hunt back-to-back triumphs.
"Results-wise, Chelsea are the best team and the hardest team to come up against," he admitted.
"If you know anything about us, we are rebels and we don't like just accepting this is the case. I am a rebel, my nature is rebellious so for me, it is about not accepting that just because they have the best resources, they have to be the best team on every occasion.
"When you set yourself up for that challenge and you know you will have to go through hell to get the victory, if you prepare for that, then I believe you can do something special."
Alexis Ohanian, husband of legendary tennis star Serena Williams, purchased a 10% stake in Chelsea Women earlier this week.
With Chelsea being at the top of their game and continuing to chase major honours, including their missing Champions League title, Skinner feels there is a lot of pressure on opposite manager Sonia Bompastor.
He added: "You are funding to win Champions League and go domestically unbeaten. Their task becomes harder in my opinion because they are going from they've got to achieve that 0.5%, not 1%, it is even smaller.
"For us what that does is, if you are a sports person, it just makes you compete better. The reality is you're not playing Chelsea every week.
"You play them in two events - or maybe three if it's FA Cup final - but if you can maximise those, you can beat them anyway because they are still human."
Bompastor eyeing 'perfect' end to historic season
After wrapping up their unbeaten 22-game WSL season - where they dropped just six points - Bompastor hopes to put the cherry on top of the cake with FA Cup success.
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Chelsea Women lift WSL title.
Image credit: Getty Images
"We are in a really good place, just the fact that we won the league being unbeaten. We won a title, but it’s maybe more than a title, because the way we were able to do it was special," she said. "I think this will stay in history for a long time.
"So that’s really positive and brings us confidence going into the last game of the season. I’m really excited to have one more game with this ambition and the fact in this one last game we can win another trophy.
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"Just to end the season with an FA Cup final at Wembley against Man United is maybe the perfect way to end the season.
"But you only get the trophy if you win, so we need to make sure going into the game we have the best preparation and we perform on the day."
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