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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Williams signed for Man Utd back in 2022</li><li>Transfer received negative reaction from club's fans</li><li>But that only 'spurred' her on to become 'icon'</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'Abuse by fans spurred me on' - Man Utd 'icon' Rachel Williams admits negative reaction to her arrival at club acted as motivation

Everton Women

Manchester United Women

<p>Williams joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2022, a transfer which was criticised by a number of fans. After only four goals scored in the previous season for Tottenham, they were not convinced by what the striker could bring to the table.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>However, in the two years since, she has certainly endeared herself to the Man Utd faithful. That has mostly come from her brilliance as a super sub but she also delivered as a starter in May's FA Cup final, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/man-utd-women-player-ratings-tottenham-ella-toone-lionesses-wembley-fa-cup-rachel-williams-lucia-garcia-spurs/blt563c45f5553c844c" target="_self">scoring the second goal in a 4-0 win over Spurs that gave the women's team its first major trophy</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>After that game, Man Utd boss Marc Skinner said: "Do you remember all that rubbish that we got when we signed her? Well, she’s turned that around, hasn’t she? She’s a fantastic footballer and more importantly a fantastic human and I hope she goes down as an iconic player for Manchester United."</p><p>Speaking at the Women's Super League's season launch media day this week, Williams was asked if she felt like she'd earned that status. "I don't know. I don't know. Probably like in women's football, if he had said in women's football, I could be, I'd still be shy and embarrassed by it," she replied. "I got a lot of abuse by fans when I first joined which spurred me on even more to go, ‘Right, you're going to love me’. I’ve had a lot of messages about, ‘Am I staying number 28? Am I staying at the club?’ I don't know if I'm a Man Utd legend after two seasons but if he wants to give me that title, I’ll take it!"</p>

WHAT WILLIAMS SAID

<p>The 36-year-old signed a two-year deal when she arrived in 2022 but Man Utd activated the option for an extra year in that contract because of her performances. "I think there were a lot of people happy, which is a nice feeling because you never want to not feel wanted, so to feel valued and wanted, especially by the fans, it's one of the biggest honours," she said.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Williams will hope to produce more magical moments in the 2024-25 season, with the WSL returning on September 20 as reigning champions Chelsea face Aston Villa. Man Utd kick their campaign off the following day, at home to West Ham.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR WILLIAMS AND MAN UTD?

'Abuse by fans spurred me on' - Man Utd 'icon' Rachel Williams admits negative reaction to her arrival at club motivated her to make fans to 'love' her | Goal.com Nigeria

Manchester United &apos;icon&apos; Rachel Williams has admitted that the fans&apos; negative reaction to her signing only motivated her to be a success at the club.