Impetus had writers in five WSL media conferences this week ahead of another vital weekend of action. Their Club-by-club reports of who said what is below (17/11/23).
Arsenal
By Genevieve Henry
The media heard from Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall ahead of their clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
As for who’s in and who’s out, Eidevall shared that there are a handful of players who ran into minor injuries before the Leicester City game last week that are still struggling. These players, Vivianne Miedema, Kim Little, Laia Codina, Lia Walti, and Jen Beattie are all still in contention but being carefully managed. “We just need to see which one(s) can make it through safely.”
With Arsenal hitting winning form, Eidevall was asked about what made his team’s mentality unique and how that has allowed them to overcome difficult challenges. “Being task orientated is really important…It almost becomes an effort, like you have to try harder, you have to run more, you need to try to overcome something. If you could take the most direct way to goal and that is the best solution, everyone would start playing the game like that. Football is about being composed and making the right decisions at the right moments.”
Arsenal have consistently found themselves behind before getting a foothold in the game, and while they have combated that well, Eidevall said, “If we make a comparison between how we were as a team in the dressing room when we were losing 2-0 against Birmingham, my first season in the WSL, to the situation against Leicester, I think that really shows the development of the team and how much better we are at handling those situations. Now the problem is we don’t want to be in those situations too often.”
The Gunners head coach spoke of his team’s conversion rate lately but said that he would rather create many small chances and be less clinical than the alternative of hoping for a gilt-edged opportunity. The decision making in the final third is something that Eidevall is trying to remedy, however, the defence has a more pressing issue. Eidevall was optimistic on the note that Arsenal have conceded the least amount of expected goals, but the team needs to fix the amount of big chances allowed against them.
On players that impressed him, Eidevall heaped praise on midfielders Victoria Pelova and Kyra Cooney-Cross, saying that both were growing into their roles and possessed incredible skills on and off the ball. However, he was adamant that they have a squad full of talent, especially in the midfield, and that no one’s starting spot is secure. Training well and performing consistently is key for these young players.
On this weekend’s opponents, Eidevall praised Brighton’s organisation, saying that they are a team that never gives up and sticks to their game play, but that Arsenal are focused on what they themselves can do. Saying that this is the most competitive season in the Women’s Super League yet, Eidevall said, “We have to be 100% all of the time.” Eidevall spoke brightly about the league’s development, saying that he didn’t understand why anyone (Emma Hayes) would leave it at such a pivotal point in its history. He was clear in his opinion that the best football is played at club level.
Aston Villa
By Emily Brown
This Sunday, Aston Villa will face West Ham United in East London, in another hugely important game between two sides lower down the ladder than they would wish.
As it stands, Villa sit eleventh in the league table with Rehanne Skinner’s Hammers two places above them just a single point ahead. A lot of former West Ham players in the West Midlanders side will be making the journey down to face their old club, including the likes of Kenza Dali, Alisha Lehmann, and Maz Pacheco.
After Villa’s win against Bristol City in the WSL last week, combined with their win against Sheffield United in the Conti Cup, the side’s confidence is rising. However, Ward is not tempted to get carried away.
“(Winning) breeds confidence of course, but I think the reality of it doesn’t change anything in the building because the players have been training well, they’ve been looking after each other, the vibes have been good but you know what it’s like in football, with momentum and a couple of wins and confidence changes naturally but it certainly puts us into a good position now to finish November how we want to.”
Regarding team news, Ward disclosed that Simone Magill “could be back in contention for the squad, if she gets through today.” Other than that, everything is still as it stands with Lucy Parker remaining out of the squad while she recovers from an ankle injury.
Ward is keen for no one to get ahead of themselves just yet and claims that the team has “got to keep working hard… winning one game – you’re not out of the woods, you’re really not and I think that it’s really important that we understand that we have to continue to win football matches and the next two are vitally important that we go and take maximum points from.”
The importance of this upcoming week for the claret and blue team appears vital if they are to succeed in the goals they have set out to achieve this season with the Villa boss stating that the team are going into “a three-game week with West Ham, Blackburn and Everton, three games that we (Aston Villa) want to try and get points, in an ideal world we’ll go and get maximum points.”
Overall though the Villa manager is positive. After picking her players up over the last couple of weeks it’s looking hopeful that the side can rebuild their confidence and momentum…
“People always talk about tactics and technical (aspects of the game) and all the rest of it. Confidence and momentum in football is huge and there’s not enough spoken about it… it’s massive… when confidence is low that plays a massive part. The mental side of the game is huge and it’s not something that is looked at enough but certainly, it’s something that we try to look at. We try to pick the players up and I think we did that after Chelsea and obviously two wins, two clean sheets, it’s set us up ready to go into these next three games.”
On West Ham’s manager Skinner, Ward recognises that “It was tough for her (coming in late at the start of the season) because she didn’t have much left of the transfer window but what you have seen is a typical Rehanne Skinner side. I think she’ll be disappointed in the last two games, but you’ve seen heart, you’ve seen desire, you’ve seen an attitude… this is not a good time to face a Rehanne Skinner team that’s just been beat.”
With this, she concludes -“I think that what you might see this weekend is two teams desperate to get a win.”
Brighton and Hove Albion
By Ava-Marianne Elliott
Ahead of the Seagulls’ clash with Jonas Eidevall’s second-placed Arsenal this weekend, manager Mel Phillips and striker Elisabeth Terland discussed how they plan to catch the Gunners out on Sunday at the Broadfield Stadium.
Despite the fact Brighton are yet to beat Arsenal, Phillips noted how Brighton had never won against Manchester City prior to this season either, yet they achieved that in a triumphant win last weekend – a testament to the determination of her side.
Even with the positives to take away from their performance after they “limited City’s chances in the second half,” and the ability they had on the ball, the Brighton boss added that “despite coming home with the three points, the team are still being critical.”
A further thing Phillips noted on was how across the season “performances are getting better” and “sustaining the momentum” that they have been building up will be key to another success this Sunday. She recognised how Arsenal will be a tough team to crack, especially due to how their opposition has “a lot of depth coming off the bench.” In relation to this, she also stated that her team are working around that factor to keep up the competitiveness and intensity despite the difficulties the fixture may bring.
She also believes heavily that both their adaptability on the pitch and through the available substitutions will prove to be useful, as they have been “recognising game changes quicker and responding and implementing change quicker.”
The start of Brighton’s campaign for this season has followed a schedule that has seen them face tough opponents in quick succession. She believes her side have been “fearless”, but mindset and confidence have been key to see them through this first run of games. Phillips also expressed how the WSL season is a “long stretch”, so pushing her team through is a priority. “The hunger that we have will really propel us.”
When the questions turned to striker Elisabeth Terland, the forward had quite a lot of modesty regarding her own impressive performances this season. So far, she has scored five goals across six fixtures, and with her current form there are early discussions about her potentially being in the run for golden boot.
“My focus is on the game coming up on Sunday and how I can help them win the game.”
When asked about what had changed for her from last season, Terland said that not a lot had changed within her mindset, and how she performs on the pitch is bigger than her as an individual, everything is for the team.
As of now, for the adaptable Brighton team their focus remains pinpoint on what each week brings, and they will work towards carrying over their successes to upcoming fixtures.
Chelsea
by Myles Thornton
Emma Hayes revealed to the media today that the USWNT job was the only one that could lure her away from the West London club.
“I’ve spent 10 years of my life at Chelsea and it was probably the only job that would take me away from Chelsea.”
She also said “I’ve worked at this club for six grand a year and then 12 grand a year, money has never been a motivator in my career” when asked if money was what made her choose to move to the USA.
When asked about Saturday’s opposition, Hayes commented “Liverpool won’t come to Stamford Bridge intimated in the slightest and they are a fantastic team with a fantastic manager (Matt Beard) who has titles to his name…Liverpool are one of the most improved teams in the league along with the likes of Spurs and Brighton.”
Speaking about her squad’s injuries leading up to the game, Hayes confirmed that Melanie Leupolz and Guro Reiten will most likely miss the game through injury as well as Catarina Macario and Katerina Svitková who are long-term absentees.
When the Blues boss was asked about having three games in the last six days she didn’t see any major issue. “We are so used to doing it, the players like back-to-back games, and at the end of the day we’re not the ones who schedule a Wednesday night game arriving home at 4:30am to have a game on Saturday at 1:30pm.
According to liverpoolfc.com, Matt Beard will be unable to select Jasmine Matthews, club captain Niamh Fahey, and Yana Daniels.
Chelsea will be looking to continue their brilliant run of form in the league currently at five wins and a draw in six games and on the back of a 2-2 draw in Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Manchester United
By Liberty Simons
Marc Skinner talks of the importance of resilience and the footballing culture of Manchester, heading into the derby game at Old Trafford against Manchester City on Sunday.
Skinner highlighted the importance of sustaining momentum heading into the game, but also not reading into the run of fixtures Manchester City have been on.
He mentioned how the team are building in “cohesion” in attacking sequences, but it is not the end result, sighting some barriers such as the many different languages within the team as an obstacle. He then followed this up with immense praise for the club’s translators to bridge those gaps, a recurring theme for the manager since the summer saw so many international signings.
He also reflected on the back-to-back defeats by Sunday’s opponents, saying how “they could’ve won against Arsenal, and should’ve won against Brighton”, but that won’t affect the team’s mindset heading into the game.
Ahead of the Sunday’s Manchester Derby, Skinner spoke about the importance of sustaining momentum heading into the derby, but also not reading into the run of fixtures Manchester City have been on. He mentioned how the team are building in “cohesion” in attacking sequences, but it is not the end result, sighting some barriers such as the many different languages within the team as an obstacle.
He then followed this up with immense praise for the club’s translators to bridge those gaps, a recurring theme for the manager since the summer saw so many international signings. He also reflected on the back-to-back defeats by Sunday’s opponents, saying how “they could’ve won against Arsenal, and should’ve won against Brighton”, but that won’t affect the team’s mindset heading into the game.
He also touched on the occasion of the derby being played at Old Trafford, claiming he hopes in a few years, this fixture, and other United fixtures at the club stadium will be “sell-outs”, saying if the attendances fell in the coming seasons, it would be damaging and embarrassing.
He also spoke about how many of his team are United fans and will have their own memories of Old Trafford as fans of the men’s team but hopes the squad can make their own memories as a team, on the pitch. He also mentioned the footballing culture of Manchester and how it can grow the women’s game going forward.
He recounted how, as a person from Birmingham originally, that football is inherently apart of the city, and he sees it everywhere he goes. He also touched on how the London clubs’ have previously got the limelight in the women’s game, but Manchester is growing as a women’s footballing city and it is pushing the game further, just as much as London.
In terms of the injuries that have affected the squad ahead of the game. Captain Katie Zelem did not suffer a concussion against West Ham United but a “small cut”, and will be available for the fixture, whilst Evie Rabjohn has a “small ankle injury” and will miss out. Other longer-term injuries remain the same.
Skinner also spoke about a different aspect of the background staff at Manchester United, stating the support the club offers the players around mental health. He mentioned how some players need to go into games a bit angry, or completely calm, but the staff at United that deal with the players mental health, and performances are superb in making sure the players are where they need to be to perform their best.
He cited the need for a “good headspace” for the athletes, and the ordinary person to be their best, Skinner also mentioned that “these conversations” around mental health in athletes and the wider world need to continue and are the key to helping others, saying that the team can ‘design a culture’ to implement this going forward.
Finally, The Red Devils head coach also mentioned how he’s excited to see ‘who rises to the occasion’ of Sunday, saying that growing into the big environments and winning will be a ‘catalyst for the game.’ He mentioned how, for different reasons, the pressure is on both teams heading into the game, but his team will have to reach another new level in the derby to keep pushing in this league.
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