Past Wembley experience ‘a huge component’ for Manchester United says Ladd | OneFootball

Manchester United midfielder Hayley Ladd believes that having previous Wembley experience can help the team when they face Tottenham Hotspur in the 2023/2024 Adobe Women’s FA Cup final this afternoon.

The Red Devils are set to appear in their second Adobe Women’s FA Cup final. Marc Skinner’s side were defeated 1-0 by Chelsea at Wembley in last season’s showpiece.

When speaking to WSL Full-Time ahead of Manchester United’s latest Wembley appearance, midfielder Ladd said that last season’s experience can help give The Red Devils the edge.

“I honestly think it’s a huge component, having that experience of playing in a final in those extreme conditions,” Ladd said.

“Last year, I didn’t think too much about it but once I was playing and I could feel the intensity from the crowd, it’s like nothing else.

“The fact that we have had that experience and also so recently, it’ll definitely stand us in really good stead. Hopefully, it’ll provide us with what we need to go one step further.”

Manchester United go into the game as the favourites but Robert Vilahamn’s Spurs side are dangerous. Ladd says that her team will be well-prepared for their opponents’ threats.

She said “We are under no illusions, Spurs are a top side with a clear way of playing. It’s really difficult to play against them and they’ve got great individuals as well. We will definitely have to be at the top of our game in order to beat them.

“We know that they will maybe see themselves as underdogs going into the game, there’s no pressure on them and that can be a dangerous situation for a team to face. We will definitely be prepared for all of the things that Spurs can throw at us and we will take the game as seriously as any other.”

While Manchester United find themselves contesting another Adobe Women’s FA Cup final, their league form must be improved. The Red Devils could end the campaign in fifth place in the Barclays Women’s Super League table, well-short of achieving their European qualification ambitions. Ladd believes that winning the Adobe Women’s FA Cup would be a success but she knows that the club’s league ranking must be bettered next season.

She said “Success looks like different things in different seasons. You can only do what you can in that position. We will certainly be really proud of winning if we do but also admit that there’s growth to be made.

“We were really proud of the finish last season, I think we probably punched above our weight in some respects as well. In some ways, that has perhaps made it difficult for this season. This team doesn’t stand still, we will keep evolving, improve and hopefully, come back next season hungrier than ever.”

The 2023/2024 Adobe Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley kicks-off at 2.30pm this afternoon. The game is completed sold out.