Mary Earps returns to Manchester United for Women’s Champions League clash
Mary Earps will return to Manchester United to face former England teammates in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday, reports BritPanorama.
The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, 32, will take her place between the sticks for the away side as the Red Devils play at Old Trafford in the competition for the first time. This match occurs amid ongoing fallout from the release of her autobiography, All In, which has sparked criticism and debate surrounding her comments about England’s national team management.
Earps has faced backlash following her critiques of former England boss Sarina Wiegman and current number one keeper Hannah Hampton. Her statements in the book suggest significant friction, particularly regarding her views on Hampton’s reliability and behavior during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 tournament.
Both goalkeepers made history as part of England’s European Championship-winning teams, with Earps winning the title in 2022 before Hampton took over for the successful 2025 campaign. Earps recounted a major disagreement with Wiegman, alleging that the coach’s decisions rewarded what she termed “bad behaviour.”
The returning keeper will reunite with many former Lionesses teammates, including Ella Toone, Millie Turner, and Katie Zelem. Earps has also discussed her exit from Manchester United last summer, pointing to a lack of urgency from the club regarding her contract negotiations.
Ahead of this significant match, United manager Marc Skinner, who oversaw Earps’s tenure at the club, described her as a “good person” and expressed confidence that the surrounding controversy would not overshadow the event. He stated, “Me and Mary have always had a good relationship… I know Mary’s a good person, so I look forward to the challenge of trying to beat her and her team.” Skinner seems intent on focusing on the sporting aspect rather than the narrative unfolding off the pitch.
As Earps takes the field, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on her interactions with former teammates and the backdrop of her recent revelations. This match not only marks a pivotal moment in her career but also serves as a reminder of the complexities that can arise when personal and professional worlds collide in elite sports.
