“She looks better in blue than red.”
That was Everton manager Scott Phelan’s response when asked about reported Manchester United interest in Ruby Mace following her impressive midfield display against them at Goodison Park.
Mace helped Everton earn a goalless draw, with Phelan praising both her contribution and the opportunities the club can offer her to develop.
“Ruby knows the value she brings to us individually, but today she showed the value she brings to the team as a whole,” he said.
“She more than held her own alongside Clare Wheeler, who’s very good too.”
Asked by Emiearth Football about Mace’s importance to Everton and the talk surrounding her future, Phelan stressed the work going into her development.
For him, her quality is clear. Helping her build on it is just as important.
“She’s great,” he said. “And where she is at the moment is at a stage where she’s learning and developing.”
Phelan acknowledged the challenge of developing while competing at a high level, but believes Everton can provide the environment Mace needs.
“There aren’t many teams that can offer her that. But we can.”
He highlighted coaching, support and trust as important parts of that process, with Mace’s performance against United showing what she already offers the team.
“We have to know the talent we have. Our job is to help them develop and grow, and we feel we’re doing that at the moment,” Phelan said.
“So long may that continue.”
Mace joined Everton from Leicester City for a club-record fee in September 2025.
