“This will give us a really good test” – Rehanne on Club America clash

Rehanne Skinner is expecting quite the challenge for her players as our Women’s first team squad kick-off their Women’s Cup campaign tonight against Club America in Kentucky (12midnight BST).

One of the top sides in Mexico and one of just four to have lifted the Liga MX Femenil title, America come into this game mid-season after their league campaign kicked-off at the start of July.

Having played seven league games so far, Las Aguilas sit third in the table with four wins and just one defeat to date. That includes victory in their last outing as they defeated Necaxa 3-1 on Thursday.

With such match fitness already under their belts, Rehanne knows the Mexican side will be slightly ahead of us in that regard, however such a test is vital in pre-season and it is one our Head Coach and her squad are very much looking forward to.

“The opportunity to come and a play a tournament, an international tournament, against other clubs is a good way of building on your pre-season and it prepares you for the league campaign,” Rehanne discussed as she looked ahead to the game.

“For us, it’s an opportunity to try ourselves and see where we are at in pre-season, especially having had lots of new players arrive that we’re trying to gel and get into our way of playing. Then, playing against different styles of football and teams from other countries will give us a really good test, and that’s what we want – to learn from those experiences and build relationships.

“I think Club America have played seven games so far in their season and they’ve got a new manager as well. They’re in season and so, in terms of match fitness, they’ll be a little further ahead than what we are now.

"They’ll be tough. What we’ve seen is that they are a physical team that will work hard. Their forwards are really threatening, positive, and so that will be something we will have to adjust to.

"The pitch size is significant as well, so that’s something to adjust to as well in terms of covering the physical distances. It’s going to be a test for us and we’re going to have to be at the races. They’re a top side in Mexico, so it won’t be an easy test at all.”