Eleven smaller chairs have been dotted around popular venues in Manchester from now until the derby, inviting anyone to come and join the game, with adult tickets priced at just £10 and juniors at £7.50.
People are encouraged to go out and find the chairs, where they’ll have the chance to enter a competition to win watching one of United Women’s training sessions at Carrington.
The current attendance record sits at over 43,000, who turned out to see the same fixture in November 2023. City snatched the win back then, but United are reigning derby champions, having come out on top at Etihad Stadium in January, winning 4-2 after Toone bagged a hattrick in her Women’s Super League return from injury.
This was a particularly special game for Janssen, who said: “[Winning the derby] was insane. It was also my birthday weekend, and a lot of friends and family came over, so for me it was a little bit extra special, and you could tell in the dressing room, the players that have been at United for a little longer, we
had to go that extra few percentage more, so we know it’s got to be the same thing at Old Trafford”.
Malard added: “The whole team had a good energy, a good mindset, and we need to keep that up for this derby”.
The clash on Sunday 4th May is set to be an even more thrilling game, with both teams hunting down Champions League qualification. United are currently third in the Women’s Super League (WSL) with twelve wins, and City on their tales in fourth.
Depending on other WSL results in the lead up to the derby, the match has the potential to be a decider in the race for the WSL title.
Janssen, said: “it’s going to be a massive game. It’s important because we’re both fighting for a Champions League spot, and in the WSL, we are also pretty close to each other too.
It’s a derby, so it’s a very exciting one. We won at Etihad, so I can’t imagine how bad they [City] want to beat us at Old Trafford, but we want to win at Old Trafford; it’s our home and we’re really excited to be able to play in a big stadium”.
Lifting the WSL trophy would be a familiar feeling for Janssen, who won the title in 2018/19 with Arsenal.
Malard, a four-times Champions League winner, joined United on loan from Lyon in September 2023. Now a permanent player, she has scored twelve goals for the Reds, and has no plans on stopping there at the derby. She said, “We always want to win against City. That is my job. It would be nice to maybe also
score, why not!"
Janssen added: “It will be a special day, playing at Old Trafford, and it would mean the world to play in front a record-breaking crowd. The more people there are in the stadium, the better it is for us as team.
Generally, we can see how much the game is growing in England, and if we can do that here in Manchester, it would be so cool”.
The end-of-season derby will bring United’s home WSL fixtures to a close before a massive summer of women’s sport in the UK, including the Lionesses fight to defend their Euro’s title.
Janssen, who has over 100 caps under her belt on the international stage for the Netherlands, says it’s the “dream summer” for sports fans:
“The upcoming Euros is really exciting. Big tournaments always bring big excitement, and people see how much the game is growing. Young players can show what they’re capable off, and it’s just exciting to see the direction of women’s football.
There are so many big tournaments going on, so for sports fans it’s a dream summer and I’m excited to be a part of it”.
Fans can ‘Take a Seat’ across Manchester now until the derby on May 4th, at locations including Diecast, Ezra & Gil, Nells, and Freight Island.
Secure your red seat to the end-of-season Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday 4th May for just £10 for adults and £7.50 for juniors.