LAURA KAMINSKI wants Crystal Palace to avoid being overwhelmed by their top-flight status following their WSL debut.
And the Eagles boss reckons her side will show their top-flight pedigree when they host Chelsea tonight.
Palace welcome the title-holders to Selhurst Park in their first London derby clash at the stadium in the Women’s Super League.
The match will see Chelsea take on the South London side for the first time in the division.
And the Eagles hope to take flight in the race for points after their 4-0 loss away to Tottenham last time out.
Kaminski, whose side will visit Leicester next Sunday, said: “It’s a big opportunity and a big moment but it’s important that it doesn’t overwhelm the squad or me.
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“We’ve done so well to get into this position.
“We need to remember this is what we want to do for many years to come.
“Although there are many firsts this season, we need to make sure those moments don’t overwhelm us.
“We’re there to play and to compete.
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“We’re expecting a lot of people and it will be great for the players to experience a night-time game. That will be a little bit new for us.
“Our schedule looks different this season with fixtures timings.
“Chelsea are a great side in terms of the players they have got.
“We have looked at them at length so I know their threats and strengths. We will be prepared for them.”
Palace’s rise to the top division in England comes just 14 months after Kaminski’s appointment as head coach.
The Eagles boss took on the job following her role as a first-team assistant at Charlton Women and as a Spurs assistant for three years before then.
Like Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor, 44, Kaminski is one of three female managers who are new to being head coaches in the WSL.
And the Palace chief believes her side will have a point to prove when they face Bompastor’s Blues.
Kaminski adds: “It’s a new manager so a change for them and will bring differences to their squad and tactics no doubt.
“It’s only the second game of the season so it’s a tough start for us but that’s what we wanted and expected.
“We want to showcase ourselves against one of the best teams in the world.
“Sonia is a very respectable manager and she has achieved loads in her career as well as the players on the pitch.
“But we have a lot of points to prove as well. We want to be here to stay. We want to make this club proud of our performance.”
One key Palace player currently out of action due to an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury is striker Elise Hughes.
The Wales ace, who won last term’s Women’s Championship’s Golden Boot, is making good progress in her journey back to fitness.
Kaminski said: “Elise in a good place and we need to make sure that we’re doing everything right in the final stages of her rehabilitation.
“She’s in a pivotal stage of rehabilitation. She’s moved from inside the condition of the gym to outside in terms of running.
“She gets to see the green stuff again and that’s a big turning point for her.”
Meanwhile Bompastor has no intention of taking the WSL’s newest contenders lightly despite their limited experience in the league.
The Blues boss, who guided her side to a 1-0 season-opening win, said: “From my experience as a coach, but also as a former, we need to respect everyone.
“A lot of teams play differently when they play Chelsea.
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“I expect them to be at their best level and we have to be prepared for that.”
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea can be watched live on Sky Showcase and Sky Sports Premier League at 7:30pm tonight
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
