Rehanne previews Manchester United

After a four-week hiatus from the league, we return to Barclays FA Women’s Super League action on Sunday when we host Manchester United at the Hive (12.15 KO). We caught up with Head Coach Rehanne Skinner to get her thoughts ahead of the match…

Can you give us an insight into how the players who went away on camp and the ones who stayed with the Club spent the international break?

“It’s been important to look at everyone’s calendars and manage both sets of players in a way that enables them to come into the Man United game fresh and ready. Players have had the opportunity to have a little bit of time back and we have integrated them back in over the course of the weekend. It’s great to have everyone back and it gives a new lease of life to the team. As a Club, we’re all really proud of everyone’s contributions for their national teams.”  

It was a successful international break for our players and a highlight of which was that Tinja-Rikka Korpela made her 100^th cap for Finland. What an achievement!

“We are so pleased for Tinni to reach a century of caps for her country, it’s a massive achievement for anybody. It shows how much of a key player she has been for Finland over the years, and obviously in the current campaign they have had a really positive result and another which they were hoping to go a little bit differently, but there is still a long way to go in the qualifiers and we have no doubt they will keep progressing through that group really well.”

Turning attentions back to the league and Manchester United at home on Sunday. What was our Head Coach expecting from the Red Devils?

“We’re really looking forward to getting back into playing league games again. The gap between games has been near enough four weeks and everyone is keen to get back on the pitch. It’s the first time we have played Man United this season and we are eager to keep our momentum going.”  

How much of an advantage is being at home for the next two games?

“Our fans are such an important part of our journey. We hear them at every game, they are the energy that drives and pushes us to perform at our best. How important they are to the players cannot be underestimated. We want to keep the momentum and having two home games back-to-back gives us a fantastic opportunity to play in front of our fans and make them proud. I want to thank them for their support so far and being with us on this journey.

“We have to take every game as it comes. Our focus is on what we need to do and making sure that we deliver on what we set out to. We are all accountable. Whatever the game and whoever the opposition, we have to make sure we stick to our game plan and work hard to be successful. As long as we approach every game in that way, we’re in a good place and we hope that we can continue to get results out of games.

“We’re in a very good position in the table and we shouldn’t be approaching any game fearing anyone. If the team give it everything they have got, that’s all I can ask for. If we do well, we will learn from that, and likewise if we don’t do well, we will learn from that too. Either way it’s still a work in progress for us. There is a belief and togetherness in the team and the players believe in what we are building.”

Is there any team news Rehanne could share with us?

“Everyone has come back from international camp in a very good place. Kyah [Simon] has been out for a period of time but she’s gained some high value international minutes whilst she’s been away with Australia. Kyah played two 45-minute halves against Brazil which has put her in a really good position to be available for us when the league restarts.

From a personal point of view as well, it must be a real lift for the players to see their loved ones who have spent such a long time away due to the pandemic.

“Yes definitely, it’s a real boost for the players’ mental health as well. Shelina has come back buzzing because she was able to spend some time with her loved ones. The rules were stricter in Australia, so Kyah could see her family in the crowd, but she wasn’t unfortunately able to meet her family properly. Bit by bit, our players are hopefully going to be able to see more of their families after the pandemic and Shelina and Kyah have benefited from that on this occasion.”