Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner is demanding a strong response from his side as they prepare to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this Saturday. While the match may lack the high stakes of a title race, Skinner insists there's no room for complacency in the Red Devils' camp.

"We have to compete in this game," Skinner stated firmly in the pre-match press conference. "I won't let a Manchester United team go out and think there's nothing on the game. We are playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and we have to go into this trying to get the three points. I'm going to tune into the players' individual focuses, and as a team, we have to give absolutely everything."

The fixture is something of a dead rubber for United, who have missed out on European qualification and are locked into fourth place in the Barclays Women's Super League table. But for Skinner, pride and momentum are on the line—and that's more than enough motivation.

Reflecting on a season that promised more, Skinner acknowledged where his team fell short. "We need to turn the draws into wins," he said. "We've lost three in the league, the same as Manchester City, but we've drawn seven. It's those draws that we need to turn into victories. In the quick turnaround games, we just haven't found that bit needed to get over the line."

Despite the frustration, Skinner sees plenty of positives to build on. "There's always a plan to think forward in terms of what we need to do to be better next year and continue the growth we've had. We will look at the fine margins, but there has been a lot of good things this season. We have to try to get back into Europe next season and compete in every competition we're in."

Looking ahead to summer recruitment, Skinner emphasized the importance of keeping the squad's core intact while adding quality. "It's got to be a priority to keep the top players. We've got a balance at Manchester United—we grow the budgets in a sustainable way, which everybody understands. We have to be clever with our recruitment. I look at us retaining the best players and adding to that."

As the season winds down, Saturday's clash at Stamford Bridge offers one last chance for United to show their mettle. Kick-off is at 1pm. For fans and players alike, it's about finishing strong—and setting the tone for what comes next.