Women’s football

MARC SKINNER believes Manchester United can use the pain of their Women’s FA Cup final loss to Chelsea to propel them to glory.And the Red Devils chief expects his side may need deploy a mixture of styles to overcome Tottenham in this year’s final. Marc Skinner hopes it will be second time lucky for Man United when they take on Tottenham in the Women’s FA Cup final a year on from losing last year’s deciderCredit: ReutersThe Red Devils were beaten by 1-0 Chelsea in last year’s finalCredit: PAThe Wembley showdown which kicks off at 2:30pm today will be the first time the sides have faced each other in a battle to lift the trophy. And Cup history will be made with both teams vying to win the competition for the first time in its 54-year history Skinner hopes it will be a case of second time lucky following Man United falling to a 1-0 loss to the Blues last May. But while his side are seen as slight favourites he warns they cannot underestimate the threat posed by Tottenham.Read More Football StoriesReflecting on last year’s decider ahead of this year’s game, the United boss said: “We got to a final and we lost to Chelsea and it was a bad moment for us because we wanted to win it. “You’d be a fool to go in super, super confident that you’re going to walk this final because Tottenham are a very, very good team, especially on their day. “They can beat anyone within the Women’s Super League. “From my perspective, it’s about living in that space in between where you’re confident and where you know what you can do.Most read in Football“But you also have the hurt of last year that you have to push through and you have to go and make sure that Tottenham feel. “If we put that mindset into place in this game, then I feel we can go on to be successful and that’s all we can plan for. “We can plan for that performance and then hope in that moment that we’ve learned from all of our experiences together. “And if we do that hopefully we’ll have that little edge on Tottenham in this game.”This season Man United have gone unbeaten in the league against Spurs with results including a 4-0 victory last December. However Tottenham have gone undefeated in their last five games across all competitions which include a 2-2 away draw against the Red Devils last month. Skinner expects today’s game will involve his deploying a mixed approach to their play on the pitch. He adds: “There’ll be times in the final down where if you’re losing, you’ve got to throw caution to the wind and if you’re winning you might have to be more reserved. “I think this game is going to have a bit of everything for both teams. “What we’ve been trying to do over the past season is build to a crescendo of understanding of the players. “Hopefully we’ll be in a position where we can attack, but I think we’re going have to have a mixture of styles.”Today’s match will see a host of past FA Cup winners in action including Tottenham skipper Bethany England. The former Chelsea striker has lifted the trophy twice with the Blues in 2021 and 2022. And she has been in clinical form for Tottenham netting a goal in five of their last seven games across all competitions. Spurs head coach Robert Vilahamn believes England’s influence and adaptability could play a crucial role for his side in today’s game. The Tottenham boss said: “Bethany has scored for a few games in a row now. Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn reckons Bethany England’s versatility in attack on the pitch will be vital for his sideCredit: Alamy”And she’s getting better and better at performing on the pitch and in different roles as well, sometimes as a winger, sometimes as a nine. READ MORE SUN STORIES“Then there’s the leadership team, she can bring to this team to help people, to make sure they stay present and make sure they continue to do what we are supposed to do.“She’s very important in that way and it shows that’s the reason she gives us some stuff in the game when we need it most.” More

CARLA WARD says her decision to stand down as Aston Villa Women’s boss has been the hardest of her managerial career.The Villans gaffer, 40, who is a mother, intends to prioritise her family life when she departs at the end of this season.Carla Ward wants to prioritise other areas of her life following her departure from Aston VillaCredit: GettyWard’s Villa side are currently seventh in the Women’s Super LeagueCredit: GettyThe Villans will take on Brighton in their penultimate WSL fixture before facing Man City at Villa ParkCredit: GettyWard’s announcement yesterday afternoon came a day before her side’s clash with Brighton in their penultimate league game this term.Her team are currently seventh and six points off sixth-placed Tottenham after rallying following a difficult start to this term’s Women’s Super League campaign.Ward, who became the WSL’s side manager in 2021, said: “Managing a great club like Aston Villa has been a full-throttle job and I have always given the role 100 per cent dedication.”However, I now believe it is the right time for me to prioritise the other important things – such as my daughter and the rest of my family life. Read More Football Stories”To step down from my post here at Aston Villa has been the hardest decision of my managerial career, but I know it is the right one for my family and I.”Last season under Ward Villa achieved their highest ever finish in the top-flight in fifth spot, following 11 wins and four draws from 22 games.Results included their first ever defeats of Arsenal and Manchester City in the top tier whilst also reaching the Women’s FA Cup semis.This followed Ward taking charge after challenging 2020-21 season.Most read in FootballOne in which the team narrowly avoided relegation finishing three points and two places above the drop zone.During her tenure Ward has pulled off some astute transfer signings in a revamp of the side.Striker Rachel Daly, Canada forward Adriana Leon and ex-Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs were among the players signed by the head coach.The team also added goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to their ranks in June last year.However, the rising Netherlands star’s first season at the club ended prematurely in March this year following surgery on her hip.Villa chiefs revealed they had made attempts to persuade Ward to remain post prior to her announcement.Villa football operations president Monchi says the club had extensive discussions with WardCredit: GettyThe club’s football operations president, Monchi said: “Carla came to us a few weeks ago and spoke of her plan to step down.“We have had extensive dialogue with her to see if there was anything we could do to persuade her to stay, but she is adamant that she wants to take a break from the game.“Therefore, on behalf of everybody at Aston Villa, I want to place on record our grateful thanks to Carla for everything she has achieved with us and wish her well for the future.” More

ELISE HUGHES insists making football history with Crystal Palace means more to her than her season being ended by a serious knee injury. The hotshot forward hopes the Eagles’ promotion to the Women’s Super League has put a smile on faces of club staff and fans.Elise Hughes was sidelined for Palace’s final game of the season after sustaining a knee ligament injury during the Eagles’ 2-0 win against Lewes on April 21Credit: GettyHughes and Annabel Blanchard have shone for the Eagles in attack this season.Credit: PAPalace will compete in the Women’s Super League for the first time in their history next seasonCredit: GettyCrystal Palace Prem star Marc Guehi was in the stands watching the Eagles’ women’s side in action against SunderlandCredit: PAThe South London side claimed their spot in the top tier ahead of next season following a 0-0 draw with Sunderland on Sunday.Hughes, who finished this as the Women’s Championship’s top scorer, has been among the shining lights for the promotion winners.The Wales ace netted 16 goals in 21 appearances this term before suffering a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury during Palace’s 2-0 defeat of Lewes last Sunday.Hughes, 23, said: “If you wrote my story at the start of the year and said to me this is how your season is going to end, as upsetting it was for me personally,  I would have taken it.Read More Football Stories “That’s because every person in the changing room means more to me than my right knee at the minute.”The amount of people that are happy because of this trophy means more to me than what I’m about to go through (with my knee rehab). “And the reason I’m about to go through it with such a brave face is because of the amount of people I’ve got behind me right now.”I couldn’t have done (what I’ve done) this year without them.”Most read in FootballPalace men’s centre-back Marc Guehi was among the spectators watching from the terraces as Laura Kaminski’s side made the leap to the top-flight.The team won 14 and drew four of their 22 Championship duels following a season that saw them battle for supremacy with Sunderland, Charlton, Southampton and Birmingham.And Hughes, who began her senior playing career with Everton in 2017, hopes Palace’s promotion will lead to more girls taking up football across south London.The Eagles number nine adds: “Sometimes you have a ‘why’ of something so in-house of winning a league, and you realise how big your ‘why’ is away from the football pitch.“We know that we can inspire the next generation.””I see fans every day with a huge nine on their back or I see girls chanting the different players’ names and you think ‘wow, okay, we are making a difference’.  “If the girls get opportunities that we never got growing up, then we’re all winners.”Since making her Crystal Palace switch from Charlton two years ago, Hughes, who hails from Flintshire in Wales, admits to feeling very settled in south London.  And she puts this down to the bonds built with her Eagles team-mates and club staff.  Hughes said: “I’m from a small village in north Wales and I’ve come to South London and I’ve felt at home and it’s mainly down to the club. “It’s down to every staff member that walks into the building. No one goes past anyone without saying ‘hi’ and there’s always a smile and there’s always a reason to smile in that building. “I hope we’ve bought an even bigger reason to smile.”It was only in 2018 ago that Palace Women were a semi-professional outfit partly subsidised by former Palace men’s star striker Wilfried Zaha. At the time The Guardian reported players were being asked to each provide £250 towards their sponsorship. This trophy is for south London. The top-flight of women’s football is where this team deserves to be. Laura Kaminski, Crystal Palace Women’s head coachFor Palace Women’s gaffer Laura Kaminski the Eagles’ promotion is the start of what she  called a fantastic new journey for the team who are full-time It comes nine months after the former Charlton Women’s assistant, who has 15 years coaching experience, was appointed as Eagle’s head coach. Kaminski said: “This trophy is for South London. The top-flight of women’s football is where this team deserves to be. “For those who have watched us across this season, they have always been full of confidence about our playing style. “I think we play exciting football that people want to watch“This club is at the start of a fantastic journey. “This is the step we needed to take. We want to give ourselves the best opportunity in the WSL.”I feel like we’ve worked hard to get all the infrastructure in around the team. “I’ve been a coach for many, many years across the women’s game at several clubs and I decided I wanted to have my own identity and philosophy and really take a project. Laura Kaminski says Crystal Palace is the perfect fit for her as a coachCredit: PA”For me what is special about Crystal Palace was the place that Palace was in, really fitted me as a person. READ MORE SUN STORIES”For both myself and Grace Williams (our head of women’s football) when we met and discussed how this might look, it was a match made in heaven. “Now we’ve seen the results of that.” More