Everton manager Brian Sørensen has hailed the club’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium as “top class” ahead of a WSL meeting with Man United.
Ahead of this season, Goodison Park officially became the home of Everton Women. The stadium was the home of Everton’s men’s team since 1892 and built a reputation as one of the most atmospheric original stadiums in the men’s premier league. This year, the men relocated to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium and Goodison became the permanent home of the club’s women. This weekend, The Toffees women step out onto the Hill Dickinson pitch for the first time, facing Manchester United in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
The decision to host the game at Hill Dickinson rather than Goodison was taken with the aim of encouraging a new audience to watch the women’s team for the first time. Everton Women CEO Hannah Forshaw said earlier this week: “Come and watch, make your own mind up…see what we put on around the game – because it is different.”
Sørensen expanded on this, adding that he hopes his side put on such a performance that this new audience are enticed to follow the team as they return to Goodison Park. On the stadium itself, he added that “I’ve been there a couple of times now and the feel has been phenomenal, everywhere you sit you have a good view”, extolling that “it just looks so good” and “everything is just top class”.
The players have also been to the stadium – the majority for the men’s game against Liverpool, where they viewed the pitch at half-time. Sørensen confirmed that his team will also train there before the match.
Man United will be a ‘tough’ challenge for Everton admits Sørensen
Sørensen also hailed their opponents’ progress, claiming that “It’s the best we’ve seen them in the last few years. We’re just going to go in and enjoy it”.
He acknowledged that United are, at least on paper, favourites for the tie – Everton’s only win against the Red Devils came in 2020 in the then-League Cup. The head coach said that his team “are realistic that it’s going to be tough”, adding that United are full of confidence following their unbeaten start to the WSL campaign and first win in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL).
Asked if he fears United raising their game in front of the Hill Dickinson crowd, Sørensen added that “I don’t think it’s possible for them to raise their game even more”.
“They’re playing with good confidence, they’re pressing high and playing good football at the moment. I don’t think they’ll raise it to new levels, that’d surprise me. They’re good and we need to respect that. We take it as an experience, put everything on the line, make sure we stay in the game and make a game out of it.”
Asked if United’s busy UWCL schedule gives the Toffees an advantage, the Danish coach was coy: “If we had them on the 14th of December potentially, but because it’s just been one game, no. The first game here doesn’t matter, but I wouldn’t mind having them on the 14th of December!”
Last weekend’s draw with Leicester a good starting point
Asked for his thoughts on last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Leicester, Sørensen was level-headed. “[We were] disappointed straight after in terms of the chances we are created, but after we analysed it we had to accept that we had eight players out which is a lot – I don’t know how many clubs in the league can cope with eight players out, maybe Chelsea.”
He added that overall, he was happy with the performance, acknowledging there were certain areas for development: “On the ball we want to be a bit better, but we are still finding the relationships,” adding that “we let them have one shot on goal, unfortunately that went in.”
Everton have taken just five points from their opening five WSL fixtures, but Sørensen will not drop his head anytime soon.
“We are still working on details in the game,” the head coach said. “We play the youngest starting XI in the league which will automatically make things up and down. Of course, I would like to have more of the regulars that understand the league ready but they’re not, so we play with the ones that we have. They’re good young talents. It’s about being better every day, learning as a team and as individuals.
“I’m still very positive about the future. It’s not been the start that we potentially wanted but you also have to be realistic in terms of what and who we are playing with and they have to learn and grow. The future looks bright, we just have to keep doing what we are doing and working super hard.”
Kelly Gago return a positive for Everton says Sørensen
Following an injury-plagued season last year, the club will have been hoping to avoid a similar fate this season. However, they have not been spared: as club captain Megan Finnigan sustained an ACL injury and has unfortunately suffered some setbacks and is now expected to return after the Christmas break.
The positive news for Sørensen is that French forward Kelly Gago is set to return this weekend: “We will have Kelly [Gago] back, that is a positive. She will be in and feature. Katja [Snoeijs] pulled out of training with a hamstring injury that is going to keep her out until after the international break.”
Considering the injuries to key players, Sørensen noted that the Toffees regularly field the youngest starting eleven in the WSL, which means there are natural ups and downs. “We have started the youngest XI in the league,” he said, adding that “we play with good, young talents and it is about learning every day. I am positive about the future. The future looks bright.”
