Everton will host Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup this weekend. Head coach Brian Sørensen spoke to the press ahead of a tough clash that ‘We [Everton] have that belief’ to come out on top and progress to the next round of the competition.
Regarding team news, Karen Holmgaard and those with long-term injuries are still out. However, Holmgaard has made her way back onto to the training pitch and is not far from a return to the matchday squad.
Those signed in the January transfer window are available this weekend: Kelly Gago, Hayley Ladd, Emma Watson and Martina Fernandez. In fact, it was his intention to make the moves early so they would be eligible for the FA Cup match.
Opponents, Tottenham Hotspur are not to be underestimated. Described as ‘a strong opponent’ by the head coach, his side will need to rise to the challenge. ‘They invested heavily in the last few seasons and brought some good quality in’ so Spurs are not an easy side to face in a knockout match. “It’s going to be an exciting game. A really open game where both teams are going to make the most of it’”
Sørensen’s goal of ‘creating something a bit sustainable and going forward something that will fit in with the Everton way’
The head coach is positive about the “good additions, good girls, quality players” that Everton have signed in the January transfer window so far. Having made more transfers than any of WSL club at present, there is a long-term plan in the making to boost the depth and quality of Sørensen’s side. However, there are still plans for more moves this window, especially to “bring people in from the top”.
Bringing in upcoming international starters is something the head coach has his eyes on for a while, and is finally starting to see his plan unfold. Former Manchester United Captain, Haley Ladd is the most recent player making her way to Merseyside. When asked about the Welsh international, Sørensen explained that she was “lacking minutes at United, so that’s a conversation that’s been going on for a while”.
With these new additions, this opens up the opportunity for the academy players to “go out and get some exposure” in lower leagues, such as the Barclays Women’s Championship or the FA Women’s National League. Sorensen’s high hopes for the Everton youngsters are clear through his comparison to players who are now regulars in the Lionesses squad, such as Grace Clinton, Jess Naz and Aggie Beever-Jones.
He believes that the Toffees have some rising stars of the women’s game, who will “gain so much experience and then they can come back and do greater things” for their parent club. The future is certainly bright for the Toffees.
Everton have shown that they ‘can beat all the teams in the league’
Before the winter break, Everton showed great promise having beaten title-contenders Manchester City 2-1 on home soil. Heading into the festive period with a huge three points certainly boosted the morale in the squad. Having dropped more points than expected in the WSL this season, Sørensen’s side needed a win against a top side to push them away from the demotion zone.
With new players in the squad, the head coach was asked whether the Toffees will have new goals as the second half of the season commences. His response, however, was “No, it’s still one game at a time. We just need to stick to the principal of how we play and the game plan.’”
Following a tough period, with several key players suffering injuries and constant setbacks, the Toffees are looking to bounce back and make their mark again. Improving the squad depth has been a principal aim during the winter break. The manager believes “if we have a team that can be consistent, and we have more players that can do a good job off the bench that have the same quality and level”.
Behind the scenes in Merseyside, the club are “very supportive in terms of the women’s side, and I think you can see that on the signings we [Everton] have already made”.
The support from the club is hugely important for both the staff and players. For example, the team “trained on the men’s pitch for the first time this week”, which is another step being taken to grow the women’s side at Everton. There is no doubt that they are aiming for an equal and positive relationship between both teams to create a promising future for those coming through the academy.
