Marc Skinner has responded to Irene Guerrero saying she needed to go to the bathroom and cry during Manchester United training sessions under him by saying he is confident the club has “a great support team behind the scenes”.
Guerrero told the Spanish newspaper Marca she “hit rock bottom” at United and was upset by her lack of playing time. Guerrero, who now plays for the Mexican club América, spent one season with the club, making three Women’s Super League appearances, all as a substitute, playing 26 minutes, and made one League Cup start.
In a lengthy interview, the World Cup-winning Spain midfielder said: “I remember mid-training session, going to the bathroom and having to let it out, cry, wash my face and go out to train as if nothing had happened. I had moments of weakness, of not understanding why I had left a place where I was doing well and believed I could compete to go to a club where they were denying me as a footballer.”
Before his side’s League Cup visit to Everton on Wednesday, Skinner said: “The reality is, players want to play football. She’s got consistent time where she is in Mexico. But from our perspective, we have a great support team behind the scenes. Not everybody is going to agree with your decision-making and not everyone is going to agree that it’s the right [playing] time. It’s unfortunate she feels that way but we give as much support as we possibly can and we can review how we look at things.”
About the claim Guerrero was “crying in the bathroom”, the head coach said: “That’s never nice to hear, but we know we have the pieces in place for players to seek any kind of conversations they want.
“Irene is a really high-standards player [and] would want to play every game and when it doesn’t work out that way of course she’s going to feel upset about the situation, but I can assure you that the support is in place if players need it.
“I’m happy that she’s in a happy place, I’m happy that she’s playing because that was the right move for her, but I know, having looked at all of our mechanisms we have in place, there’s support. We’re going through it now with other players that need support, from other things in their lives. I wish Irene all the best and I hope she finds the happiness she needs in her new club.
Guerrero was one of six departures from United this summer, along with the club’s former captain Katie Zelem, the England goalkeeper Mary Earps and the England forward Nikita Parris, as well as the Spain winger Lucía García and the Wales defender Gemma Evans.
United are unbeaten in all competitions this season and are fifth in the WSL table before their game in hand, away to the leaders, Chelsea, on Sunday.
