MARC SKINNER reckons claiming the top prize at the World Sevens Football contest could be huge for Manchester United financially.
Along with Man City his Red Devils got off to a winning starts on the first day of the women’s seven-a-side tournament yesterday.
Celin Bizet was among Man United’s scorers yesterday on the first day of the inaugural World Sevens Football tournament
United and Man City are among eight sides battling it out for the contest’s top prize with the winning team set to claim around £1.8million from a £3.76 prize pot
Kerolin, who scored twice for Man City in their 4-0 defeat of FC Rosengard, reckons the style of play of the tournament felt “a little bit Brazilian”
In the coastal town of Estoril in Portugal, the two WSL rivals are battling it out with six other European teams competing for the chance to be the contest’s overall victors.
The winning side of the inaugural three-day seven-a-side tournament will earn around £1.8million ($2.5m) from a £3.76m ($5m) prize pot.
And total prize money for this competition is more than what the victors of this year’s Women Champions League final will win with holders Barcelona up against Arsenal on May 23.
Skinner said: “For any team who wins it would do a lot. First and foremost the players are enjoying it and having a good time.
“If we then get to the point where we can win the prize money then of course that can be huge for us as well.”
“But more importantly, the players have to enjoy it and that’s exactly why we were here.
“It’s carnage, chaos. You have to allow the players to make decisions themselves. We will learn. The ball is fast, light and the pitch is quick.”
Along with Ajax, Roma, Benfica, Bayern Munich, FC Rosengard and Paris Saint-Germain, United and Man City competed in 30 minute matches played two halves of 15 minutes.
Teams are permitted to use unlimited substitutions from the 14 players allowed to be part of their squad for each game.
United, who take on Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain today, defeated Roma 3-2 following Man City’s 4-0 triumph over Swedish side FC Rosengard.
Aside from being in a seven-a-side format, the pacy, goal-laden matches played at the home of Primera Liga side Estoril Praia, featured a DJ playing live music during the action.
And fans being permitted to drink alcohol in the stands during games was another departure from the norms of a Women’s Super League match day.
Brazil star Kerolin, who scored twice for City side in their win, reckons the style of play and atmosphere felt a little bit Brazilian.
The City forward said: “I think it’s a good opportunity to be myself, especially after I came back from my ACL injury.
“I tried to go one-v-one all the time. It’s hard to do that when it’s 11-aside as there’s too much to think (about).
“Here I just want to enjoy that and be aggressive.
“I liked the music a lot. In Portugal the weather is really nice so everyone is like ‘OK, we like these vibes.’
“Let’s just see how the tournament goes.
“Harder games will come. We prepare for that and we just need to wait to see how we perform.
“We try. It’s a little bit Brazilian I think. I like the ginga. I just think about getting back those things and being a little bit brave.”
The Man City squad selected by interim boss Nick Cushing for the World Sevens features a few of the club’s promising young prospects including Codie Thomas, 18, Poppy Pritchard 19, and Lily Murphy, 19.
Anita Asante, who is a member of the tournament’s Players Advisory Council, sees the contest as another platform on which younger players can make their mark.
The ex-Lioness, Arsenal and Aston Villa ace said: “There’s room to be creative.
Ayemu Oyama, who scored for Man City in their opener, is likely to be in action when her team play Ajax and Bayern Munich today
“It also gives players an opportunity to showcase their talent at an elite level that could be unique to the women’s game sport.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for clubs to utilise the tournament to give further development and playing opportunities including their younger players.”
“It might provide the platform for showcasing emerging talent in general.”
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