Eva Olid has barely had a moment to herself since arriving in Manchester, but the international break is about to change that. The Manchester United Women's manager says she has spent virtually every waking hour shuttling between home and work since replacing Marc Skinner two months ago, and has yet to set foot in the city she now calls home.

"I didn't stop from when I arrived!" Olid told BBC Sport. "Home, work, home, work. My parents are here, my family are here and now I want to discover Manchester."

The Spaniard is asking friends and colleagues for recommendations as she prepares to explore the city properly for the first time, with United's Women's Super League campaign now paused for a fortnight while World Cup qualifying play-offs are played out across the continent.

A rocky road that has steadied

It is fair to say Olid had every reason to keep her head down in those early weeks. Her arrival from Hearts, where she had built a strong reputation in the Scottish Women's Premier League, was met with curiosity in English football — and the opening weeks did little to settle nerves.

United lost to London City Lionesses on the opening night of the WSL season, then suffered a 5-0 home thrashing against Chelsea the following week, mustering just two shots on target across both fixtures. It was a brutal introduction to the top flight for a manager arriving as a relative unknown south of the border.

The noises out of Old Trafford — or more precisely, Leigh Sports Village — are far more encouraging now. A draw at Arsenal suggested the groundwork was being laid, and since then United have reeled off four consecutive victories across the WSL and League Cup, scoring 18 goals in the process. Saturday's win over rivals Liverpool was the latest step forward, and it backs up the growing sense that Olid's methods are beginning to click.

Not getting carried away

Olid is careful not to declare the job done. "I am so happy for the players — they deserve it," she said. "We have started to click in a lot of things and they fight for each other. But there is still a lot to improve. We created chances, but our last pass and our finishing needs to be better. That will come."

Liverpool manager Gareth Taylor cut a frustrated figure after the defeat, suggesting his side fell into United's hands by not adapting quickly enough to a direct approach. "They were very direct and we fell into their trap," Taylor said. "Their goalkeeper was literally kicking out of her hands. We have got to be braver and there are lessons to learn."

Base camp on the outskirts

Part of what makes United's setup slightly unusual is that the women's squad plays most of its home games at Leigh Sports Village, around 12 miles west of Manchester city centre, while training takes place at Carrington in Trafford — the same site used by the men's team. The geography means Olid has been operating largely on the fringes of the city throughout her tenure.

With family already in town and a fortnight away from the dugout, she sounds determined to put that right. Whatever Manchester has to offer, it sounds like the city is about to get its first proper look at its newest football manager — and vice versa.

Frequently asked

Who is Eva Olid and what is her role at Manchester United?
Eva Olid is a Spanish football manager who took charge of Manchester United Women approximately two months ago, replacing Marc Skinner. She previously managed Hearts in Scotland's Women's Premier League.
How are Manchester United Women performing in the WSL this season?
After a difficult start that included a 5-0 loss to Chelsea and a defeat to London City Lionesses, United have found their form under Olid. They have won four consecutive matches across the WSL and League Cup, scoring 18 goals in that run.
Where do Manchester United Women play their home games?
Manchester United Women play most of their home matches at Leigh Sports Village, around 12 miles west of Manchester city centre. The squad trains at Carrington in Trafford, which is also the training base for the men's team.