Amber Whiteley: "They Have Taken Their Opportunity So Well"
Yesterday at 04:49
The manager was pretty pleased with the squad's first win at Anfield.
Has Amber Whiteley been the secret all along?
Liverpool Women notched their third win in three matches on Friday, and their first ever on the hallowed Anfield ground, when they hosted Manchester United Women. Despite illness running through the squad, Whiteley was able to put together a lineup that took control and didn't let up until the very end, and she couldn't have sounded more pleased in her post-match comments.
"When you play against the top teams – any team – you've got to be defensively organized and that's something we've tried to instill over the last couple of weeks," Whiteley told BBC Sport following the match.
"We've worked really hard. We try to protect the central areas of the pitch and then when it goes wide, that's when we can be aggressive and try to lock them off. I think we've done that well – we did it well tonight, we did it well against Arsenal on Sunday. And when you defend well it gives you opportunities to transition and be dangerous on the attack."
As much as we might hate to admit it, Arsenal and Manchester United Women are some of the top teams in the Women's Super League and these wins shouldn't be taken lightly. Not only that, but four of the players that started against Arsenal last week missed out after suffering various illnesses, further testing the squad.
"I think it just shows the quality and the depth we've got in the squad," Whiteley explained.
"The team would have been unchanged tonight coming off the back of two wins, two good performances, two clean sheets. Illness obviously hit overnight and it gave opportunity for players to come into the team, and I thought they did a fantastic job, they have taken their opportunity so well."
One of those players that has continued to impress has been Olivia Smith, the Canadian with boosters on her feet and an eye for goal. Smith scored in the first half and then added to her tally by finishing a penalty in the second half to make the scoreline 3-0 after Fuka Nagano's goal.
"She's phenomenal, she gives us so much on the ball but the work-rate off the ball is just as good. It's so, so important." the manager said.
"Obviously we've changed to four at the back – it's so important you've got your midfield in front and working hard to protect your back line. She puts an incredible shift in, she was brilliant."
For someone to go from assistant to head manager in a short and unexpected time period is impressive on its own merits, but taking a squad that was struggling to beating Arsenal and Manchester United in two weeks is noteworthy. Her secret?
"Hard work, good preparation. No secret really," Whiteley admitted.
"We give the players absolutely everything they need to go and perform against any opponent, and then when they cross the white line it's up to them then. But every time they have done that, they have executed so, so well. They have put absolutely everything in again tonight so full credit to the team."
With more than week between now and their next match, there is plenty of time for the ill players to recover and the rest of the squad to strengthen. There is undoubtedly things to work on, but those three wins will hopefully be plenty of momentum and incentive as they continue in the season.
"We want to keep improving, that's the biggest thing. So, game by game we want to keep getting better. I think we've seen the progress already from the game at [Crystal] Palace, through Arsenal and to this one tonight," said Whiteley.
The Women have a week now to prepare to face Arsenal once again, this time in the Women's Super League at the Emirates Stadium, to try to close the gap on fourth place Manchester City.
