Coach Kicks: Marc Skinner (Manchester United)

The magazine’s standing coach questionnaire, put to Manchester United’s Marc Skinner alongside his main interview. His favourite session is rondos-based, because he likes seeing how players react to a little chaos; asked which player made the biggest impression on his coaching career he refuses to choose, crediting the non-professional players of an earlier era with teaching him what today’s professionals need. He would pick Marta for the infectious competitive edge, does not join in training because it becomes emotional rather than focused, and reports that his players moan chiefly about assistant Carl Green’s refereeing and the weather. He keeps a Dumbledore quotation about words on a mug, has bought an Oculus in the belief that virtual reality will let coaches teach heading without the physical contact, and tells new coaches to listen, then challenge.