Olid: London City defeat surprised me - but my methods will take time

Man Utd head coach Eva Olid on London City defeat, facing 'the best' Chelsea in her second game and how she wants her team to improve; Watch Chelsea vs Man Utd live on Sky Sports Mix from 11.30am on Sunday, kick-off 12pm

Eva Olid has learned more about her new Manchester United side in the past week than in the whole of the previous month since she took over from Marc Skinner.

Even with some difficult pre-season results and a summer of transition hinting at teething problems, her methods had been sufficiently implemented on the Carrington training pitches to be confident going into last Friday's curtain raiser at London City Lionesses.

Olid knew her first WSL game was going be a challenge against Michelle Kang's star-studded big spenders but the manner of their 2-1 defeat - and a 100th-minute consolation from their only shot on target - was not on the agenda.

"What I saw surprised me a little bit," she tells Sky Sports , ahead of an already crunch showdown with Chelsea on Sunday. "We lost the game by ourselves, we didn't do what we had to do.

"In the friendlies we had played, we were making good progression about what we needed. In our last pre-season match against Man City we could have scored goals, we created chances. Of course, in friendlies if you make a mistake, it's a friendly. Everyone is confident.

"There were still a lot of things to build in terms of style, but we felt ready to compete. But then we reached that first match and the things we were doing in pre-season, we stopped doing. The pressure of the competition affected us in that first 45 minutes. It was a big learning."

Those first-day nerves were picked up on by pundits, who questioned how well Olid's new players were adapting to her methods. She has already admitted United will need to strengthen in January to add players fit for the style she wants to implement, but she insists those already there can succeed, too.

Everton transfers, latest news, rumours and gossip: Live updates, goals and highlights

Jarrad Branthwaite wasn’t pleased with missing out on Player of the Match award

Leeds United transfer news, rumours and gossip: Live updates and latest on deals, signings, loans and contracts

Newcastle transfer news, rumours and gossip: Live updates and latest on deals, signings, loans and contracts

Coventry transfers, latest news, rumours and gossip: Live updates, goals and highlights

Man City transfer news, rumours and gossip: Live updates and latest on deals, signings, loans and contracts