Interim head coach Amber Whiteley previews Liverpool's WSL clash with struggling Aston Villa
28/03/2025
Melwood training ground, Liverpool, UK
28/03/2025
Melwood training ground, Liverpool, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to our press conference with LSC Wolleman interim manager Amber Whiteley as we look ahead to Sunday's clash with Aston Villa.
00:11And mostly on Zoom today, and we'll kick off with Ellie Thomason from BBC Sport. Ellie?
00:19Hi, Amber. Hope you're OK.
00:21Hi, Ellie.
00:23Obviously, it's been seven days now since your last game. How's the team looking as it stands before Sunday's game?
00:29Yeah, team news is good. Got everyone a bit healthy, just still without Hannah.
00:37She had a little setback earlier in the week, but we shouldn't keep her out too much longer than expected.
00:45And how's it been this week? Obviously, after the game, you kind of said it wasn't like you that night when losing to Arsenal.
00:50You said it wasn't like us. It wasn't a typical Liverpool performance.
00:53What's it been like this week and are you happy with the preparations heading into the weekend?
00:59Yeah, we've had a good response this week.
01:02Didn't expect anything different, really.
01:04We review and reflect in the same way as we would with coming off the back of a win.
01:12So lots to take from that game.
01:16They've been really good in training this week and we're ready for Sunday.
01:21And how's Jazz Matthews been this week? I know everyone said after the game they'll rally round and pick her up.
01:25Has she taken much picking up this week or has she just got on with it and bounced back?
01:30No, she's been absolutely fine.
01:34Going into these last five games, obviously, you've still got an FA Cup semi-final to play for.
01:38But in terms of the league in these last five games, have you got your eyes on that fifth place finish?
01:43Is that what you're targeting? Are you setting those kind of targets yet?
01:48I think that's something that we can definitely aspire to.
01:52Other than the position in the league, we want to improve every week.
01:58We want to improve the performances.
02:01Yeah, I think that's just as big of a focus for us as where we finish in terms of our league position.
02:10Obviously, before you even took charge of the game, when you were named interim manager, you said you're keen on the job on a full-time basis.
02:16Is that still the case? Have you enjoyed your run so far and is that still your ambitions going forward?
02:22Yeah, I've absolutely loved it.
02:25Got really good people here in the building. I've said that so many times before.
02:28Great staff, great players, fantastic club to work for.
02:34So, yeah, nothing's changed on that front.
02:38Well, and just one question away from this weekend's game and yourself.
02:42I don't know if you saw, but this week there were some comments from the Brighton owner saying that obviously they're going to build a purpose-built women's stadium for the club.
02:49But he said that it might be an option that women, female footballers need to play on different types of pitches to men footballers to kind of reduce the risk of injuries.
02:57Is that something you've ever kind of thought in your time in the game?
03:03Is that something you've ever thought of that could kind of reduce the number of injuries to female players?
03:07Or do you think it still needs a lot more research before we kind of get to that sort of conclusion?
03:14Ellie, I don't think I've got the right knowledge to be able to answer that question.
03:19So to give you a proper opinion, I think go out and do the research.
03:27Yeah, and go forward from there.
03:30Thank you. Sorry, that was a bit of a curveball. All the best for this weekend.
03:33Thanks, Ellie.
03:35And we'll go to Megan Ferinder from The Athletic. Megan?
03:40Yeah. Hey, how are you? Sorry, I'm all over the place in this shop. How are you doing today?
03:46Yeah, good. Thanks, Megan.
03:48Yeah. Real quick, you just said that the last game wasn't a typical Liverpool performance.
03:53Obviously, you've only been in charge for a couple of games now, but under you, what do you think a typical Liverpool performance is?
04:01Organised, with and without the ball, you should see a clear structure.
04:08Work ethic, so hard running, again, with and without the ball.
04:14Goals and good at defending our own goal too.
04:20So, yeah, all of the things that you would expect from Liverpool Football Club, from a team that plays for Liverpool,
04:32all of the things that our fans want to see and to get behind.
04:36And looking at your opposition this weekend, Villa, when you look at that team,
04:42do you expect them to be in the position that they are currently?
04:47I think they've got a really good squad over at Villa.
04:51Obviously, Natalia is still quite new in.
04:55I think she needs some time to really bed in her ideas.
04:59But they've got a really good team and we've got to be ready for that threat on Sunday
05:07because they're absolutely capable of producing a good performance and putting us under pressure.
05:16So we've got to be ready for them on Sunday.
05:19I know you can't say too much because obviously you've got to keep some aces up your sleeve.
05:22But when you do consider Villa, what do you think their biggest strength is?
05:28I think the biggest strength lies in their top line, so much pace and power in their front line.
05:35They can be quite direct at times, good movement.
05:39So, yeah, I think that's the biggest thing that we've got to be wary of on Sunday.
05:44Cool. Thank you so much and good luck this weekend.
05:46Thanks, Megan.
05:48Thanks, Megan. We go to Sophie from Girls on the Ball.
05:51Hey, Amber, good to see you.
05:53I was just going to ask about maybe the psychology of these kind of games
05:56because you're one point off fifth, but playing a team in that relegation battle,
06:03they're fighting for everything.
06:05Every game is kind of a cup final for them.
06:07How do you balance that psychology on your side?
06:12I think rule number one for me, regardless of who you play in,
06:15you pay respect to your opponent and you do that by preparing well
06:21and working hard throughout the week.
06:23So, nothing has changed for us in that respect.
06:25Our preparation has been really good.
06:30It's been really diligent and it's been brilliant in training.
06:34So, we'll be properly prepared for Sunday.
06:39In terms of looking at the block that you've had,
06:42maybe bar the blip last week, it's been a pretty successful block.
06:46What have you learned about yourself in these last three weeks and about your team?
06:50Good question.
06:55I'm not sure if I've had time to properly reflect from a personal standpoint,
07:00but I think from a team perspective, it's just really affirmed what I knew already
07:06that we've got really good people in the room, really talented playing squad
07:11and they've been able to, I think, really show themselves in this last block of games.
07:20They've shown great character and really great quality at times as well,
07:26with and without the ball.
07:27So, I've been super pleased with them and really proud of them too.
07:32And I guess maybe international break gives you that chance to reflect a little bit.
07:37Yeah, I'll go away and do that self-reflection for sure.
07:41Brilliant. Thank you so much. Good luck on Sunday.
07:43Thanks, Sol. Thank you.
07:45I think we've got Geoff Pickett left, freelance broadcaster.
07:48Geoff, anything from you?
07:50Yeah. Hi, Amber.
07:52It's been a big European week this week.
07:55I was just wondering what you made of the two games with Arsenal's comeback
08:00and then Chelsea's comeback as well.
08:04I'll be honest, Geoff, I didn't see either of them,
08:07but obviously I've seen the results.
08:09I believe that Arsenal were just as good against Madrid as what they were against us on Sunday.
08:16So, yeah, full credit, I think, to Arsenal and to Chelsea
08:20for turning both of those scorelines around.
08:25The fact that we've got two teams in the semi-finals now,
08:29does this reflect just how strong the WSL is becoming?
08:35Yeah, I think so.
08:36And really pleasing to see two English teams in the semi-finals of that competition.
08:42So, yeah, best of luck to both of them.
08:45Thanks very much.
08:47Thanks, Geoff.
08:48I think that concludes us for today.
08:50Thank you very much, everyone.
08:52Hopefully see a couple of you at St Helens on Sunday.
08:55Otherwise, enjoy your football wherever you're seeing it.
08:58Thanks very much.
08:59Thanks, everyone.
09:00Cheers, bye.