'written In The Stars' - But Earps Expects Man Utd Boos On Return

Women's Champions League: Manchester United v Paris St-Germain

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester Date: Wednesday, 12 November Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch connected BBC Three & BBC iPlayer, commentary connected BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sounds, unrecorded matter commentary connected nan BBC Sport website & app

"Written successful nan stars, immoderate mightiness say."

After 501 days since her departure, Mary Earps is returning to Manchester United.

But nan goalkeeper, who played 125 times for nan nine during a five-year spell, will beryllium lining up connected nan different broadside of nan transportation erstwhile Paris St-Germain sojourn Old Trafford successful nan Women's Champions League connected Wednesday.

"I knew it from nan infinitesimal they qualified. Sometimes you conscionable consciousness it. Maybe I manifested it, I don't know," Earps told BBC Sport.

The 32-year-old said she exchanged messages pinch her erstwhile United team-mate Ella Toone consecutive aft nan tie was made, while she added: "Going backmost to Old Trafford which is simply a typical place, pinch truthful galore astonishing memories. I'm looking guardant to nan game."

The spotlight will surely beryllium connected Earps, who has dominated headlines successful caller weeks for comments astir former England team-mate Hannah Hampton and head Sarina Wiegman successful her recently released autobiography.

"Mary was ever a leader," said United head Marc Skinner successful his pre-match news conference. "She ever had a sound and her ain sentiment - I ever welcomed that. She ever said what she was thinking.

"We invited her backmost and perfectly respect her for what she did here. We besides invited her backmost arsenic an force and I person to beryllium clear connected that. During nan game, it's astir america trying to triumph against Mary."

With United chasing a 3rd successive triumph successful nan competition, what benignant of reception tin Earps expect astatine Old Trafford and really has she fared successful nan French capital?

Earps was a hugely celebrated fig astatine United pursuing her presence successful 2019 from Wolfsburg.

She played each convention crippled for 4 seasons arsenic United's outright number 1 and won nan Women's FA Cup successful May 2024 - nan club's first awesome trophy - earlier heading to France erstwhile her statement expired.

Earps had been offered a caller woody to enactment but, aft overmuch deliberation, she rejected it, saying nan nine were preparing to "undergo a play of transition" that "did not align" pinch wherever she was successful her career.

"I deliberation she will get a bully reception. Her clip astatine Manchester United was very good," ex-England midfielder Fara Williams told Football Focus.

"She took them to their first Champions League decorativeness while she was there. She had second-placed finishes pinch United, played successful FA Cup finals. She had a awesome clip astatine nan nine and nan fans adored her, truthful I'm judge she'll spell backmost to a bully reception."

Earps, though, was little hopeful.

"I'm astir apt expecting a small booing," she admitted. "I dream it's a small bit, but it mightiness beryllium a lot.

"A fewer of nan fans person travel retired to support maine astatine PSG, but Manchester United is their number 1 team. I understand that."

While he can't power what reception Earps will receive, Skinner said he was looking guardant to welcoming her backmost to Manchester and hopes nan caller book will not alteration people's perceptions of her.

"Deep down I cognize Mary is simply a bully person," he added. "I'm judge portion of bringing retired a book is bringing retired arguable worldly that will thief waste nan book. I cognize that she has to take sides that publicly.

"Knowing nan quality she is, I'm judge she will beryllium getting disapproval that she won't like. It's portion of nan different broadside of releasing a book.

"But she's a awesome person, she doesn't request maine to opportunity that really. I dream group toed nan statement pinch criticism, but I'm judge Mary understands nan business she's put herself in.

"She's connected a level wherever group are willing successful what she says, truthful that's a in installments to her and to her difficult work.

"The goalkeeper we had astatine nan start, to nan 1 that left, was not nan aforesaid person. She transformed."

Speaking successful a BBC question and reply earlier this year, Earps said her move to PSG had allowed her to flight "the craziness of England".

She fitted seamlessly into nan team, instantly becoming nan club's number 1 to commencement 22 of their 24 convention matches past term.

But it was a disappointing play for PSG arsenic they ended nan run 10 points down Lyon, who besides hit them successful nan play-off final, while they were besides knocked retired successful nan 2nd information of Champions League qualifying.

And conscionable arsenic her travel successful Paris was getting started, Earps' England profession was opening to upwind down. Despite playing regularly for her club, Lionesses leader Wiegman gave much opportunities to Chelsea keeper Hampton.

When Hampton was handed nan starting spot up of Euro 2025, Earps described nan determination arsenic "unjust" and subsequently announced her status from world shot conscionable earlier nan tourney started.

This term, PSG find themselves 2nd successful nan league, 3 points down Lyon, and caput to Manchester successful hunt of a first Champions League triumph aft losing to Wolfsburg and Real Madrid.

Earps has started each crippled successful some competitions, conceding 15 goals successful 9 matches - including six successful nan 6-1 conclusion by Lyon.

PSG caput coach Paulo Cesar has "no doubts whatsoever" Earps is fresh to return connected her erstwhile club, contempt nan furore surrounding her book.

"She is wholly fresh for nan game," he said. "Has location been an effect connected her arsenic a person? I can't spot it.

"If location is thing successful nan dressing room, it hasn't filtered done to maine and I spot her each day."

PSG defender Olga Carmona added each her team-mates had "a awesome woody of confidence" successful nan keeper, who was capped 53 times by England.

"It's a pleasance to play pinch Mary, I'm very fortunate to beryllium successful nan aforesaid squad arsenic her. It creates information and information we each request astatine nan back.

"As a defender, we person very bully connection betwixt us. I worth her winning mentality and we spot it successful nan matches she plays."