USWNT's Megan Rapinoe slams English football for delaying investment in women's teams

Manchester United only recently formed a women's team in 2018, and although they earned a promotion to the Women's Super League in their first season, United States Women's National Team star Megan Rapinoe slammed the English club for its delay in forming a women's club. 

Rapinoe's USWNT teammates Christen Press and Tobin Heath signed with the club over the summer, providing some much-needed star power. However, Rapinoe believes English clubs should be doing more for women's soccer. 

"I think women's football in England is the same as in America — it is so far behind because of what we've had to overcome in the lack of investment," Rapinoe told BBC.  "It's 2020. How long has the Premier League been around? And we're only just seeing a club like Manchester United put effort and pounds towards a women's team? Frankly, it's disgraceful."

The Women's Super League only now is starting to receive more exposure after a summer full of blockbuster transfers. On top of Press and Heath, USWNT stars Samantha Mewis, Rose Lavelle and Alex Morgan left the United States' NWSL to play in England. The league also boasts stars such as Sam Kerr and Vivianne Miedema, among others. 

The WSL has just 12 teams compared to the Premier League's 20 clubs. Some of the Premier League's most popular clubs, including Liverpool, Leicester City and Southampton, still have yet to invest in a women's side.

In her interview, Rapinoe also revealed that she didn't feel supported by the U.S. Soccer Federation or former head coach Jill Ellis for taking a knee four years ago in support of Colin Kaepernick and the fight against police brutality and racial injustice. 

"It was not a comfortable time. I certainly felt that at least my international career was a little bit in jeopardy," Rapinoe said.

"It showed me a lot of true colours around me in a lot of different ways. The critics yell really loud and I had a federation who clearly didn't support me and, I felt, a coach who really didn't support me, but I had so many people around me who always stuck by me and were with me the whole time."