Carla Ward’s Aston Villa begin their 2023/24 WSL campaign by hosting Manchester United at Villa Park. Here’s the latest heading into the season opener this Sunday…
THE BUILD UP
Women’s Super League football is back and Aston Villa kick things off this Sunday when they play hosts to last season’s runners up Manchester United. Carla Ward’s side will look to continue to improve this term and build upon last season’s fifth-place finish by breaking the mould of the ‘traditional top four’.
It has been a busy summer for the Villans, both in terms of transfers and the pre-season schedule, but Carla Ward believes her team is ready and raring to go.
On preparations and the upcoming fixture, she said: “We’re always going to be ready. I don’t think I would ever say anything else. It’s been the weirdest pre-season, as I’ve alluded to. I’m sure every (women’s) manager up and down the country will tell you the same.
“The girls have been sensational since they’ve been back in. We’ll be as prepared as we ever are. We’ve got two sessions leading into the game. Most of the work’s been done, it’s a bit of a tidy up now.
“I can assure you now, we will be ready.”
Ward has improved her squad heavily over the last few months, bringing in the likes of Adriana Leon, Lucy Parker, Daphne van Domselaar and Ebony Salmon, among others. Speaking on her summer business, the 39-year-old head coach said: We’ve brought in players all over the pitch that can cause different problems. It allows us to be fluid in the way that we play. It gives us different attacking options and I think that’s something that we didn’t have last year.
“We were very set in our ways. Now it just gives us a different dimension. We can play in different ways with different types of players.”
Marc Skinner and Manchester United have also overseen a number of changes in regards to personnel this summer – most significantly the departures of striker Alessia Russo and midfielder Ona Batlle, who joined Arsenal and Barcelona respectively.
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The Red Devils did invest well, bringing in the likes of Barcelona’s Geyse and Japanese midfielder Hinata Miyazawa, but keeping ahold of ‘keeper Mary Earps, after major interest from Arsenal, and the likes of Ella Toone, Katie Zelem and Maya Le Tissier is a big boost.
There is plenty of excitement from both camps heading into tomorrow’s clash at the Bescot Stadium and the game is perfectly poised, with both sides hoping to get off to the best possible start.
Can Aston Villa start as they mean to go on and claim all three points on the opening weekend or will Marc Skinner’s Manchester United prove too much for Carla Ward’s side and kick-off their title-chasing campaign with a victory on the road?
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TEAM NEWS
ASTON VILLA
Carla Ward will be without play-maker Kenza Dali for tomorrow’s season opener against Manchester United. Carla Ward confirmed that the French international came back from this summer’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand with a knock and will be unavailable.
On Dali’s condition, Ward said: “Kenza [Dali] came back from the World Cup with a knock. She’s unavailable, she’s not been back on the pitch since the World Cup she’s still in rehab.
“It’s probably come a little too soon, she’s probably a couple of weeks away.”
Left-back Maz Pacheco is a ‘major doubt’ for the upcoming fixture at the Bescot Stadium. In Friday’s press conference, Carla Ward confirmed that the 25-year-old had picked up an illness and is unlikely to play, she said: “She’s picked up the dreaded bug that’s flying around… very unlikely to feature.”
The head coach did confirm that, aside from the two absentees, the rest of the squad is ready and able to play, she said: “Apart from that, everyone’s healthy, fit and available. We’ve got probably the biggest numbers we’ve ever had available. No complaints from us whatsoever, we’ll be ready to go.”
MANCHESTER UNITED
Marc Skinner will be without summer signing Emma Watson for tomorrow’s trip to the Bescot Stadium. Watson, who completed the move from Rangers in August, recently damaged her ACL on international duty with Scotland and faces a long spell on the sidelines, as a result.
United released a statement following the devastating injury. It reads: “Manchester United can today confirm that midfielder Emma Watson suffered an ACL injury while on international duty with Scotland.
The 17-year-old is currently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at Carrington with the support of our medical teams.
Everyone at Manchester United will be working closely with Emma to support her recovery.”
The Reds will also be without Irish defender Aoife Mannion for tomorrow’s trip to the West-Midlands. Head coach Marc Skinner recently confirmed the 28-year-old’s absence in a team news statement.
On the former Manchester City defender’s condition, he said: “Aoife will not make this game, she has a quad issue where she is about eight to 10 weeks away. Itβs a little tear in her quad. She should be absolutely fine after that.
“She is back on rehab and back around. I havenβt seen the report yet [from those coming back from international duty] but I think everyone else will be available.”
The Manchester United head coach revealed that Jayde Riviere is back, however, and has confirmed that the Canadian forward is in contention to feature tomorrow afternoon. On the 22-year-old’s return, Skinner said: “When we played Bayern Munich, she blocked a shot and it kind-of adjusted her knee a little bit. Nothing too serious. She has been on a rehab phase to come back.
“Jayde will train this morning and she will be in contention for the game on Sunday.”
PREDICTED LINE-UP
Letβs take a look at my predicted line-up for this upcoming fixtureβ¦
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share yours now and letβs discuss?
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share yours now and let’s discuss?
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