Women’s Super League: How London City Lionesses proved they can live up to the hype

In contrast, opponents Manchester United – one of those London City hope to overtake this season – clearly need more time to adapt to new manager Eva Olid’s ways.

When she addressed the media for the first time on Thursday, the Spaniard promised brave, attacking football and a desire to dominate possession.

But what transpired in a painful opening 45 minutes for United supporters was a team short on confidence and lacking threat, failing to produce a shot of any kind.

The second half saw improvement but it came too late.

Indeed, United did not have a shot on target until the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time, substitute Simi Awujo’s goal giving the scoreline a friendlier look.

“I always say it’s a process. In three weeks, I don’t think we can believe we are a team that will dominate the ball and attack,” said ex-Hearts boss Olid, who was appointed on 5 August.

“Of course, I think it’s more something mental. In the first half, I didn’t feel like the players were believing. At half time I said: ‘Listen, this is not us.’

“In the first half, we were forcing things, the basics in possession were wrong and we were giving them the ball to attack. That is not what we want to be.

“In the second half, we were building through the middle, playing in the pockets and moving through the lines. That is us. That felt like my team in the second half.”

Olid said it was her job to help her players believe they can be better and was defiant when asked if United could compete with the quality displayed by London City.

She said the difference between the two teams on the day was down to confidence.

“If we play as we did in the second half, I don’t think the gap is that big,” she added.

“I think the structure was wrong in attack – when the structure isn’t right, the players are lost. We fixed that but mentally, the players were not believing.

“London City pressed well and took our mistakes to create chances. They did very well in the first half but in the second half, I felt we were in the match.”