Manchester United head coach Casey Stoney has hit back at Megan Rapinoe and told her she was ‘two years too late’ with her criticism of the WSL leaders.
The two-time World Cup winner, one of the most iconic players in the history of the women’s game, spoke earlier this week and called United’s decision to delay the formation of a female team until 2018 as disgraceful.
She said: ‘I think women’s football in England is the same as in America – it is so far behind because of what we’ve had to overcome in the lack of investment. ‘It’s 2020. How long has the Premier League been around?
‘And we’re only just seeing a club like Manchester United put effort and pounds towards a women’s team? Frankly, it’s disgraceful.’
United won promotion during their first season in existence and are currently top of the WSL ahead of this weekend’s derby against local rivals Manchester City.
Responding to Rapinoe’s criticism, Stoney told the BBC: ‘She’s about two years too late for the comments.
‘But people are going to have their say aren’t they? It’s a big club. When you go to Manchester United, you get used to that.
‘Obviously everyone criticised Manchester United for not having a women’s team but I know the reasons why. I know why they wanted to do it when they wanted to do, and how they wanted to do it properly.
‘It wasn’t resourced in terms of staff in at the club beforehand – for it to be able to be done the way it is now.
‘Now I believe we’re in a good place. I think we’re doing things the right way. I’m immensely proud to be part of this football club.’
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