On Sunday afternoon Crystal Palace lost 1-0 to Manchester United in the WSL in their last game before the winter break. While the result means the Eagles will be rooted to the bottom of the table at Christmas, Palace gave their fans reason to be hopeful with a spirited performance against Marc Skinner’s Manchester United despite defeat.
After the match The Halfway Line got the chance to speak with Laura Kaminski, the Crystal Palace head coach about the match, and get her thoughts going into the winter break.
Kaminski ‘proud’ despite defeat
The Crystal Palace head coach was asked about her thoughts on the match after full time. While she rued the mistake that cost the team, she was positive about how the side performed overall, noting: “We let ourselves down in terms of we had a little mistake, which obviously cost us, because they’ve got quality. But for me, I’m so proud of the players that were involved in that game.”
Despite defeat, it was an improved showing especially compared to the heavy defeats to Manchester City, Chelsea and most recently West Ham, Kaminski continued, “I thought we’ve shown fantastic growth as a group. I think we’ve shown great belief, and we’ve got to believe that if we keep doing what we’ve done today, then eventually the points will turn in our favour.”
‘We trust in Larko’ affirms Kaminski
With twenty minutes to go and her side a goal down Palace turned to 19 year old Irish forward Abbie Larkin help them back on level terms, while Larkin was unable to do so on Sunday it was a show of the confidence the club have in her talents. The Halfway Line asked Kaminski about bringing Larkin on and her plans for Larkin in the future, she responded:
“Yeah, we, you know, we trust in Larko. She’s a big part of the squad. Technically, she’s a very, very good player. She can play off both feet. She’s got pace, she’s got everything she needs for the future. We’re working with her behind closed doors, in house. She shows us what she can do. And I thought today she came on and gave a good account of herself as well, as well as featuring with Ireland. So, you know, she’s got two, two pans on the boil at the moment, and it’s proving that she can play at this level at this moment in time.”
Lexi Potter ‘a future star’ lauds Kaminski
There was a brilliant battle in midfield on Sunday between Lexi Potter and Grace Clinton for dominance of a vital area of the pitch, and Kaminski was quick to praise Potter for holding her own, explaining: “Lexi has come on leaps and bounds, and she’s a future star, you know, for the country. And it just shows like even against quality, Lexi can perform. You know, Grace [Clinton] caused us some problems. We knew that was going to happen, but, you know, it’s a it’s a great thing for Lexi to say that it was a battle, because Grace Clinton has got great quality.”
Palace looking to ‘bolster’ the squad over the winter
During the match today Crystal Palace seemed to lose another forward as Katie Stengel had to be withdrawn in the first half through injury with last season’s top scorer Elise Hughes still unfit to play. Kaminski confirmed post match there was no news as yet on the seriousness of Stengel’s injury and was then asked about the transfer window, responding: “We’re very happy with, you know, the players that we bought into the club at the start of the season. But you know, this season has cost us in terms of some injuries and some knocks, some long term obviously, with Jorja [Fox] and Brooke [Aspin.] So now, you know, we’ve got to look to bolster squad in the winter.”
‘Fantastic’ Nolan ‘absolutely thrown in’ praises Kaminski
This week has seen the return of Irish centre back Hayley Nolan to the starting eleven after injury with Kaminski full of praise for Nolan, she stated: “Hayley Nolan, you know, has showed physically, what she’s capable of doing and return to play. For me, she’s been absolutely thrown in. Obviously. Josie Green took a knock on international break. Hayley took a chance, and for me, she’s had some fantastic performances.”
Nolan was a key part of the Crystal Palace side that were promoted last season but she missed all of the season prior to the West Ham defeat last week, Kaminski noted, “Its very difficult when the players that are in that squad had had months of learning experiences, and Hayley didn’t have that because she was off, she was injured. You know, she was away from the squad in the gym. Listen, she’s come back and absolutely taken the opportunity and has put in three absolute, brilliantly, brilliant performances for us.”
‘We’re good enough’ Kaminski extolls
When asked to reflect and provide an assessment the season so far Kaminski gave a thoughtful and honest answer:
“Sometimes we warm up a little bit too late. We’ve got to believe that we need to start games as we finish them, because we’re good enough. And I say those are the messages that I’ll be giving to my squad, and have been for some time. And we just need to keep that, keep on that positive track forwards. We’ve grown a lot, and now we need something to show for it.”
