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      Skinner targets progress beyond fourth for Manchester United in the WSL after Etihad draw with Man City

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      MARC SKINNER insists Manchester United are not aiming to settle for fourth after nabbing a point against their neighbours. Laura Coombs pounced to ensure Man City shared the spoils of a 1-1 draw in a record-breaking top-flight duel at the Etihad.
      Leah Galton bagged her fourth WSL goal in nine games after giving Manchester United the lead at the EtihadCredit: Alamy
      Marc Skinner says his players’ performances have shown how much they have evolved since last seasonCredit: Getty
      Laura Coombs levelled the match for Manchester City with her fourth league goal this termCredit: Getty
      The match saw the Citizens’ smash their previous WSL crowd record  of 31,213 at the ground smashed with 44,259 turning out to watch. 
      Leah Galton’s opener looked to have given the visitors the perfect early Christmas gift before Coombs’ leveller for the hosts. 
      The result, which preceded Arsenal’s 4-1 drubbing of Aston Villa and Chelsea’s defeat of Reading, sees Man United end the year in third and three points ahead of the Citizens. 
      Skinner, whose side have a game in hand on Chelsea, said: “I’m frustrated with the result but not the performance.
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      “We will continue to evolve this team.
      “Honestly, as a coach, it is the most pleasing thing to see the players taking on responsibility and showing their personality.
      “We’ve shown so much growth in the first half of the year. It really sets us up for next year.”
      The match saw Galton register her fourth league goal in nine WSL games this term. 
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      On the form of the versatile Red Devils ace, Skinner added: “Galton was magnificent. 
      “She’s a wonderful, wonderful talent. Defensively, offensively, I would not want to play against her.”
      While the Red Devils may have missed out on a derby win at the Etihad they are proving to be far more formidable foes for their top three rivals having beaten Arsenal on the road this term. 
      When asked on where he hopes to strengthen his squad in January Skinner, was tight-lipped on which areas he would be focusing on. 
      The Red Devils boss said: “Manchester United are not here to compete for fourth. 
      “We’re actually here to compete in every game we play regardless of the historical position of any team we play against 
      “I respect everything Manchester City do, I respect everything Chelsea and Arsenal do, I respect everyone in the league. 
      “We know how difficult a job this is and trying to bridge that gap and we’re planning ahead.”
      City, who started strongly, came close to netting in the tenth minute with Alex Greenwood’s delivery prompting a scramble and a superb punched goal-line clearance from Mary Earps.
      But the visitors began to get the upper hand.
      They took a 27th minute lead with Galton sweeping the ball home after neat build-up play involving Ella Toone, Hannah Blundell and Millie Turner. 
      Nikita Parris looked to be through on goal moments later before Leila Ouahabi’s stunning tackle thwarted the forward.
      And Deyna Castellanos saw her strike from distance comfortably gathered by Earps close to half-time. 
      The second spell saw United keep the pressure up on Gareth Taylor’s side before Laura Coombs directed a 58th minute header home after Laia Aleixandri’s drive up field. 
      The game became more end-to-end as City upped the ante and both sides pushed for a late winner
      United’s Martha Thomas forced an impressive late close-range save from Ellie Roebuck following Earps stopping a bullet header from Khadija Shaw.
      There were shouts of a handball after Greenwood blocked Lucia Garcia’s cross in the second minute of injury time before the game finished a draw.
      The outcomes sees remain City fourth and three points behind United before their first league clash of 2023 with West Ham
      City boss Taylor said: “I thought a draw was a fair result.
      Gareth Taylor believe his Man City side are starting gel effectively following a summer of squad changesCredit: Getty
      “They edged it in the first half, we did in the second half. It was too much like a basketball match in the final stages for my liking.
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      “I feel we have a really good team for the future. They’re starting to gel and play well together. It’s exciting. 
      “We’ve got ourselves into a good position in both competitions we are in.” More

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      Manchester City ace Casparij eager to follow in the footsteps of Netherlands stars who have shone in the WSL

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      KERSTIN CASPARIJ is hoping to turn her Manchester City move into a fairy-TAYLHer side’s duel with Marc Skinner’s Red Devils could see the Netherlands ace take to the pitch in her first derby since her July switch from Dutch side FC Twente. 
      Kerstin Casparij could be in line to start for Manchester City when they take on Man United at the Etihad in the WSLCredit: Alamy
      Manchester United have been in formidable for in the Women’s Super League winning seven of their first eight games this seasonCredit: Getty
      The Citizens midfielder, 22, who began her senior playing career at 15 at Dutch club SC Heerenveen, is one of seven players who joined the Conti Cup holders this year.
      And her arrival followed the departures and retirements of several former City aces including Euros-winning quintet Ellen White, Georgia Stanway, Jill Scott, Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze.
      Casparij, who made 42 FC Twente appearances helping her old side a league title win last year, said: “Gareth got me very excited about my move here. 
      “The first time Gareth and I spoke to each other he was just very football minded which I liked 
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      “I could really spar with him on what I thought or what he thought and he was very open about that. 
      It’s just nice when you have a first conversation with a new coach to have that open mindedness.”
      Today’s match between Taylor’s team and Manchester United, who are second in the table, will be the first derby encounter in the league between the rivals this season.
      The highly anticipated clash which is expected to attract 43,000 fans will see both sides face-off at the Etihad for the first since September 2019. 
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      Back then the hosts, who are currently fourth clinched a 1-0 win courtesy of a 25-yard thumper scored by their former forward Caroline Weir. 
      The Citizens are yet to lose to United in the league and have gone on  a six-game winning run after losing to Aston Villa and Chelsea. 
      However their neighbours currently have the advantage of a three-point lead in the race for the title and a place in one of the WSL’s top three spots for Champions League qualification. 
      And last month Skinner’s side clinched a dramatic 3-2 win against Arsenal at the Emirates. 
      Casparij insists the squad mood going into this match is a relaxed one. 
      The midfielder, who has made seven WSL appearances this term added: “We’re really down to earth but we want to win every game
      “We know we have to and we want to do well in the league this year and win things.
      “Everyone’s just really relaxed and focused on each game. The main thing is that we don’t get overconfident.”
      Off the pitch Casparij is eager to get to grips with Mancunian phrases. 
      She added:  “I like saying ‘I’m buzzing’ but I feel like I say that all the time so I have to come up with some new phrases. 
      “When I joined and was doing my medical, some of the players would say phrases like ‘you’re not Manc mate’ or ‘only people who support City are Manc’ and stuff like that. 
      “But I wouldn’t like to burn my fingers by saying that to anyone because I don’t want to fight!”
      In recent years players from the Netherlands have made their mark on the domestic game in England including the WSL’s record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema. 
      Gareth Taylor’s side could go level on points with the Red Devils if they win their first derby clash of this seasonCredit: Getty
      Other Dutch players who enjoyed trophy-winning success on these shores include former Gunners Danielle van de Donk and 2019 World Cup Golden Gloves winner Sari van Veenendaal. 
      Along with Miedema and former Arsenal midfielder Dominique Janessen both were part of the squad that helped Arsenal to a WSL league title win in 2019. 
      Casparij, who was part of the Netherlands side that reached the Euros quarter-finals’ said: “The Dutchies who have been there have done amazing for themselves.
      Casparij admires the impact Netherlands stars such as Vivianne Miedema have had on the WSLCredit: Getty
      “This makes it maybe a little bit easier for like the new generation of girls to come into the WSL. 
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      “There’s a reason they thrive and there’s a reason we actually love being in the UK.
      “I think it’s massive for them to have taken the first step.” More

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      Ward backs Arsenal ace Miedema’s call for football authorities to consider player workloads in women’s game

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      CARLA WARD has backed Vivianne Miedema’s call for football chiefs to listen to fears over player workloads. The Aston Villa chief’s squad contains several internationals including England star Rachel Daly and Scotland aces Rachel Corsie and Kirsty Hanson.
      Carla Ward says the workload of players in the women’s game with the scheduling of international windows is a bigger picture issue that needs to be discussedCredit: Getty
      Vivianne Miedema wants Fifa and Uefa to listen to concerns regarding players’ workloadsCredit: Reuters
      Today Villa take on Arsenal at home, four days after Gunners star Miedema, 26, flagged the higher number of international breaks in women’s football compared to the men’s game.
      Ward, 38, said: “It’s a difficult one because what Miedema said is very true. 
      “I talked about it after the last window where there were World Cup qualifiers and we had players finishing a game on a Wednesday night with complete heartbreak and then they have to play 48 hours later. 
      “I’m not sure you’d see that in the men’s game.
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      “It’s a bigger picture, something that needs to be discussed — and I’ve spoken about that. 
      “You have to put the welfare of players (first) both mentally and physically
      “There’s also mental challenges with that, how they cope with certain emotions of certain games, and then having to come straight back in.”
      Today Sunday Villa hope to maintain the form that saw them qualify for the Conti Cup’s knockout phase after finishing top of their table after four group phase games. 
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      And the Gunners will hope to snuff out Daly’s attacking threat with the forward and Man City’s Khadija Shaw currently topping the WSL’s scorers chart with eight goals each.
      Daly’s form has seen her win a Barclays Women’s Super League player of the month award for a second time this season.
      Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall, 39, said: “Rachel Daly has been phenomenal so far this season. 
      Rachel Daly has impressed for Villa in the WSL netting eight goals so far this seasonCredit: Getty
      “But it’s not only her unfortunately, we need to focus on Villa as a whole team in order to deal with them and to get the result we want.”
      Ward added: “Rachel leads by example and she is the type of personality you need in the changing room.” More

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      Chelsea boss Hayes says draw with Real Madrid is a ‘fair result’ after Blues drop points in the Champions League

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      EMMA HAYES says ‘bumps in the road’ are to be expected after Chelsea shared the spoils of a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid. Christmas looked to have come early for the Spanish side in the Champions League group stage clash after Caroline Weir pounced on a clearance error.
      Caroline Weir gave Real Madrid a first-half lead in their second group stage duel with Chelsea –Credit: Reuters
      A Madrid own goal after Guro Reiten’s spot-kick saw the WSL champions secure a drawCredit: Getty
      But Guro Reiten’s spot-kick saw Hayes’ aces maintain their unbeaten group phase run before their clash with Reading in the WSL this Sunday. 
      Prior to their Madrid visit Chelsea have been in clinical winning form in Europe keeping six clean sheets in their last seven European games.
      The clash at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium saw them concede for the first time in Group A following their 2-0 home defeat of their opponents last time out. 
      Hayes said: “Technically, I’ve never seen us give the ball away so cheaply. All parts of our play in-possession struggled. 
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      “That’s something we’ll work at. We’ve been playing really well, so we’re disappointed.
      “It’s the first time in a while we’ve conceded such a poor goal.
      “Credit to the team for the way they responded. Everybody raised their levels.”
      Chelsea have notched up ten points from the four group stage games they have played to date with the club currently top of the table.
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      On qualification for the knockout phase remaining in their hands, Hayes added: “We’re in a good place and we know this is a tough group. 
      “We have to respect that we’re coming to Madrid, we’re away from home and this is a big pitch. 
      “They are an improving team who drew with Paris Saint-Germain and beat Manchester City and we have to pay respect to them. 
      “I thought it was a good game and probably a draw was a fair result.”
      The Blues came close to netting in the opening five minutes with Sam Kerr cracking the crossbar after a Reiten corner and hitting the post later on. 
      But Weir ensured the hosts took a first-half lead against her old WSL foes as the Spanish side began to put pressure on their opponents. 
      Ann-Katrin Berger’s clearance paved the way for the forward to stroke the ball home in the 36th-minute bagging her first goal against the Blues in a Madrid shirt. 
      However Ivana Andres’ clumsy challenge on Reiten saw the visitors get back on level terms in the second period through a penalty
      And they did so after Madrid goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez scored an own goal after pushing Reiten’s spot-kick off the post into the net.
      At the other end Berger pulled off a classy close range stop to deny Olga Carmona a goal in the 79th minute before Weir sent a long range effort over the bar. 
      And Rodriguez pulled off a stunning stop parrying Kerr’s thumped shot out of danger with both sides sharing the spoils. 
      Emma Hayes’ side take on Reading before their Champions League game against VllazniaCredit: Getty
      Chelsea’s Thursday night draw saw them open up a three-point gap on Paris Saint-Germain at the top of their group before their December 16 clash with Vllaznia. 
      A win against the Albanian side will see the Blues reach the knockout stage ahead of their December 23 duel with PSG – their last game in the group stage. 
      Before then the WSL leaders face Reading at Kingsmeadow with the aim of picking up a tenth win in the top tier this term.
      The match comes in a week that saw Hayes and her assistant Denise Reddy win November’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League Manager of the Month prize. 
      The Chelsea boss said: “It’s a tight turnaround so we have got to rest really quickly with Friday off then back in on Saturday and playing again on Sunday, but we’re used to doing it.
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      “It doesn’t make it easier but I always think playing away from home on a Thursday and then playing at home on Sunday at least makes it a little more palatable. 
      “But we’ve got the experience of doing that and I think everybody in the squad trains at a really good level that we have such great players that we can cope with this type of game.” More

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      Uefa fines FAI for IRA chants sung in Republic of Ireland women’s team dressing room

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      THE Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has been fined after a number of their women’s national players engaged in chants referencing the IRA at Hampden Park in October. Uefa revealed the FAI had been fined £17,274 following an investigation conducted by its Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector. 
      Republic of Ireland Women made history in October when they qualified for the World Cup for the first time after beating ScotlandCredit: Sportsfile
      Members of the Republic of Ireland’s women’s team made headlines after their 1-0 defeat of Scotland in a qualification duel for a place in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. 
      Film footage of players singing pro-IRA chants in their dressing room at Hampden Park sparked furore after clips were circulated on social media. 
      Players were seen chanting ‘Ooo Ah Up The Ra’ following their game against Scotland on October 11.
      The Republic of Ireland had made history that night by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in the side’s 49-year existence. 
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      The chanting incident after their win against Scotland in October led Europe’s governing football body to fine the FAI for “violation of the basic rules of decent conduct”.
      A statement published on the disciplinary page of Uefa’s web site said:  “Following an investigation conducted by a Uefa Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector regarding the potential inappropriate behaviour by players of the Republic of Ireland Women’s team in the aftermath of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers play-off second leg match played against Scotland on 11 October 2022, and the subsequent disciplinary proceedings opened against the Football Association of Ireland, the Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has taken the following decision: To fine the Football Association of Ireland €20,000 for the violation of the basic rules of decent conduct.”
      In response to the fine the FAI said: “The Football Association of Ireland notes and accepts the sanction by the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body of Uefa following Uefa’s independent investigation into a potential breach of Uefa’s Disciplinary Regulations.
      “The FAI and the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team has apologised to all affected by events after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Play-Off against Scotland in Hampden Park in October.
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      In October national team manager Vera Pauw, 59, issued a public apology following players’ post-match chants at Hampden Park. 
      Pauw, who has coached the side since September 2019 after being appointed as boss, said: “We’ve hurt people and we are very, very deeply sorry for that.”
      Next summer the Republic of Ireland will be one of 32 teams competing in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
      The team have been drawn in Group B at the tournament alongside Canada, Nigeria and contest co-hosts Australia.
      Their first game will see them go up against Australia on July 20 at Sydney Stadium.
      Vera Pauw’s players will play Australia in Sydney in their first World Cup game in July 2023Credit: Sportsfile More

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      ‘Joe Montemurro was direct about what he expects.. it’s a good start to a new journey’, says Juventus ace Beerensteyn

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      LINETH BEERENSTEYN has come a long way since her playing days at ADO Den Haag where her talent was spotted at 15 by the Dutch club’s former boss Sarina Wiegman. The striker, 26, who helped the Netherlands to Euros glory in 2017, is enjoying life at Juventus who play Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
      Lineth Beerensteyn has a made swift impact since her June move to Juventus netting four goals in eight Serie A games this termCredit: Getty
      Arsenal’s clash with Juve will see Beerensteyn go up against her Netherlands team-mate Vivianne MiedemaCredit: Alamy
      The clash at the Emirates will see Joe Montemurro attempt to guide his Juve stars to victory against the team he led to a WSL title in 2019. 
      It will be the first time the Juventus head coach, whose players reached the Champions League quarter-finals last term, takes on his old club in North London since his June 2021 appointment.
      Beerensteyn, who scored in the club’s 1-1 draw with the Gunners in November said: “Last season Juventus showed the whole world what they can do in the Champions League. 
      “They were also in a tough group then with Wolfsburg and Chelsea and at the end they went through and Chelsea went out. 
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      “This season it’s the same again with three really big clubs in the same group – Lyon, Arsenal and us. 
      “Anything can happen in this group. It’s still open and that’s also interesting, because you know that with every game you have to be at your very best.
      “In the Champions League you want to play the best games and the best teams. The tournament is special.
      “If you can play every game against big clubs, that, for me, is the best feeling you can have.”
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      Beerensteyn has made a strong and swift impression on and off the pitch since signing for the Serie A champs in June after a five-year spell at Bayern Munich.
      The Netherlands striker – who charmed her team-mates with a pop song medley during an club initiation ceremony – has netted five goals in 10 Serie A and Champions League games this term. 
      The Hague-born forward, who performed Beyonce’s Halo alongside Sara Gunnarsdottir, describes her move as the “perfect match” for herself and the five-time Italian top tier champions. 
      Beerensteyn added: “It was like a strong, family feeling when I came in.
      “After the Euros when I came here it felt like coming home. The club, my team-mates, the coaches, everyone was so nice. 
      “Joe is a great coach and, for me, this was a good point to start a new journey after five years at Bayern Munich.
      “He knows how to lead a big club and to reach a lot of things.  
      “The club wants to achieve a lot of things in the upcoming years and that for me is a big start to show what I can bring to this team.”
      Among the present and past Gunners stars coached by Montemurro during his four-year Arsenal reign are Dutch aces Vivianne Miedema, Jill Roord and Danielle van de Donk.
      Van de Donk, who now plays for Lyon and compatriot Miedema were part of the Arsenal squad that won the Women’s Super League title in 2019. 
      Joe Montemurro is aiming to steer Juventus to their second win in Group D in this term’s Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      When asked if she picked their brains on their experiences under Montemurro, Beerensteyn said: “They all said he’s a great coach.
      “Joe was direct about what he expects from me.
      “That’s also what I expect for myself because I know what I can bring with my strengths and with my qualities. 
      “For me it was like a perfect match because I had this target and he had the same targets for me and that’s why it felt like a good (move).”
      One coach who has had a significant impact on Beerensteyn’s journey as a player is Lionesses chief Sarina Wiegman. 
      In 2012 Wiegman, the two-time Euros-winning head coach, was in the fifth year of a seven-season spell managing ADO Den Haag.
      You can see now with Sarina (Wiegman) managing England that what she did with us wasn’t a one-off.Lineth Beerensteyn
      That year she led the team, whose players then included Beerensteyn, to a Dutch Cup and top-flight title win. 
      And the Juventus forward credits Wiegman with giving her the break in a career that would also see her play for FC Twente and Bayern Munich before joining Juve this summer. 
      During Wiegman’s five-year reign as Netherlands head coach Beerensteyn was part of the squad that won their first Euros crown in 2017 and reached the World Cup final two years later. 
      The Holland forward, who has made 86 senior appearances for her country, said: “Sarina was a big influence for me personally because she was my first coach at ADO Den Haag.
      “I was 15 and she gave me that chance. 
      “After that she was my coach on the national team and step by step she saw me growing. She had a huge impact on my career. 
      “It’s sad that she left us (the Netherlands), but you can see, now that Sarina is managing England, that what she did with us wasn’t a one-off.
      “She is reaching it again with a different team, in a different country and with a different language. 
      “I have huge respect for her because she is a really good coach and person.”
      Beerensteyn was part of the Netherlands team that won the Euros in 2017Credit: Getty
      Under new head coach Andries Jonker the Netherlands will be one of 32 sides competing in next year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 
      In 2019 Beerensteyn and her team-mates reached the final where they lost to tournament winners USA. 
      On the chances of her side going one better at next year’s tournament, Beerensteyn added: “First of all, we want to pass the group stage. That’s the first step and very important. 
      “With our quality, it doesn’t matter who is playing because we have such a strong group and if we show that, I think we can do something special.”
      This weekend Holland’s men’s stars take on Argentina in a bid to reach their World Cup semis and set up a duel with Brazil or Croatia. 
      Juventus will take on Serie A leaders Roma on Sunday with Montemurro’s side currently six points behind their title rivalsCredit: Getty
      Beerensteyn added: “It will not be an easy game but they showed against the USA (who they beat 3-1) what they can do.
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      “I think they will show this against Argentina and if they can be smart against (Lionel) Messi, they can win.”
      *Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League game against Juventus will be aired live on DAZN’s channel on YouTube at 8pm on Wednesday night. More

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      Arsenal ace Miedema reiterates player protection call and urges rethink on number of Fifa windows in women’s game

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      VIVIANNE MIEDEMA hopes coaches will encourage their players to take breaks following her time away from match action in November. And the WSL’s all-time top scorer urged Fifa and Uefa to listen to player welfare concerns with a number of top pros sidelined by injuries this term. 
      Vivianne Miedema says she has come back ‘physically a lot fitter’ following her short break in NovemberCredit: Getty
      The Arsenal star netted for the Gunners against Juventus and Everton following her return to actionCredit: Getty
      Miedema, 26, who made 30 Gunners appearances last season and played nine international games for her country this year, was absent from Arsenal’s defeat and two Netherlands fixtures. 
      And the Gunners ace believes her short stint away months after getting Covid during the Euros has seen her return ‘physically a lot fitter’.
      Miedema, who with her team will play Juventus in the Champions League at the Emirates on Wednesday said: “I think a lot of people probably thought my time off would just mean me going on a holiday and not training, and just getting away from football. 
      “But I’ve actually used some time off, going to the other side of the world, but still training every day. 
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      “I’ve not had a pre-season after I had Covid this summer, so I used that period of time to actually get myself fit and that’s the biggest difference I feel on the pitch right now.
      “I feel physically a lot fitter, I think you can see that in the games, and I think by being physically fit, then the game becomes easy for me again. 
      “You’ve seen that over the last two games and I hope I can at least hold that in the next four games, until Christmas.”
      Miedema is among a number of influential WSL figures who have flagged concerns regarding the physical demands on players in recent seasons due to a busy domestic and international schedule. 
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      Last month the striker used her column in Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad to call on football’s authorities to consider the “physical strain” on players amid a spate of injuries to WSL aces.
      Beth Mead, Lina Hurtig and Gunners’ skipper Kim Little are among her club mates contending with injuries. 
      Miedema’s call came weeks after she was granted time off to ‘rest and recharge’. 
      And the player scored against Juve in the Champions League on November 24 after returning to action five days earlier during Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United.
      Leah Williamson made her return to action for Arsenal in the WSL ahead of their second Champions League group stage duel with JuventusCredit: Getty
      When asked if players should feel free to ask for time off, Miedema said: “It’s something that a lot of younger players, and even also the older ones, would probably not ask for themselves. 
      “I think coaches on national teams and club football, need to be a bit more aware of it as well and sometimes probably instigate it themselves 
      “But I hope that by me taking the time off, it will have done good for a couple of players, that they are feeling confident enough to actually ask for that break and don’t feel ashamed for needing it
      “As I’ve said so many times before, it’s been so non-stop over the last couple of years that, at one point, you just need to switch off. 
      “For some people that might mean two weeks, for other people that might mean longer.
      “I just hope that they feel confident enough to ask for that time off.”
      When asked what action she would like to see on player welfare and busy fixture schedules, Miedema added: “It’s quite a hard one because in the end, as a player, you want to be playing in the big tournament, you want to play at a Euros, you want to play in a World Cup.
      “The biggest difference when it comes to international football with us is that we’ve got more windows within the season than the men have. 
      “We also played the Olympics with a-teams instead of the Under-23s and that’s definitely something that Fifa, Fifpro and Uefa need to start looking at. 
      Joe Montemurro is aiming to lead his Juve aces to victory against his former club in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      “If we want to make the calendars similar, then don’t let us have six FIFA (international) windows when the men only have four or five per year.
      “I think that also comes back to us (in women’s football) not having the same amount of numbers within our squad.”
      Arsenal’s clash with Juve, who are coached by former Gunners boss Joe Montemurro, could see defenders Leah Williamson and Rafaelle Souza back in European action. 
      The duo could be set to make their first Champions appearance since the Gunners defeat of Ajax away in September. 
      Reflecting on their return Miedema added: “We’ve missed their qualities on the pitch.
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      “But I think as a team, and especially when you have many injuries, you stick together. You try and help each other out.
      “Then the moment the players are coming back, it just lifts the whole atmosphere in the team, with the girls being back on the pitch. You’re happy about that.” More

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      Taylor’s Manchester City aim to ‘claw back ground’ on WSL title rivals in duel with Skinner’s Man United

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      GARETH TAYLOR insists there are ‘no easy’ WSL fixtures after Manchester City’s eighth win on the bounce since losses to Aston Villa and Chelsea. The Citizens overcame Brighton 3-1 to keep pace in the title race before their derby clash with Man United on Sunday. 
      Gareth Taylor’s Manchester City aim to go level on points with Man United after their first derby clash this seasonCredit: Getty
      Marc Skinner’s side have been in fine form losing just one of their eight WSL games to date netting 21 goalsCredit: PA
      City are currently three points behind their neighbours and Arsenal before their Etihad duel with the Red Devils on December 11.
      Taylor’s side hope to gain ground on both clubs and WSL leaders Chelsea in the race for top three and the title. 
      As of Monday morning more than 40,000 match tickets have been bought by fans ahead of the game which kicks-off at 2:00 pm.
      When asked if wins for City’s rivals had played on his team’s minds, the Academy Stadium boss said: “You expected them to win the games they played and they did. 
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      “People probably expected us to win as well and that’s probably some of the problems with the game at the moment
      “People see the game on paper and think well that’s it, but then there are no easy games. They can be difficult.”
      Chloe Kelly looked to have open her WSL goal account for this term when her corner kick found its way into the back of the net in the 11th minute
      But the England star’s delivery was deflected into the net by Seagulls defender Jorja Fox.
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      Julie Blakstad’s header and Laura Coombs thumping finish saw the hosts extend their lead to 3-0 with Brighton’s Lee Geum-min netting an injury-time consolation. 
      City’s clash with the Red Devils could see Taylor team go level on points with United should they defeat Mark Skinner’s side.
      The last encounter between the teams ended in a 4-1 Women’s FA Cup fifth round victory for the Citizens in February this year.
      Back then Lauren Hemp, Khadija Shaw and former City stars Caroline Weir and Ellen White were on the score sheet
      However, the club will face a high-scoring United side who have lost just once in the league so far this term, keeping five clean sheets in eight games.
      But Taylor is believes his side have a good chance of gaining ground on their neighbours.
      Taylor added: “We have a good opportunity at the weekend at home – albeit at the Etihad – to claw even more ground back.
      “Certainly after (losing) the first two games to be where we are now is a great effort from everyone. ”
      Manchester City will take on Liverpool in a Conti Cup group stage duel before facing Man UnitedCredit: Alamy More