Joe Montemurro was a happy man at the final whistle on Sunday as we secured a vital win in the race for Women’s Champions League qualification with a 2-1 victory over Everton.
With a three-point lead over Manchester United and a vastly superior goal difference, it would now take a miracle for the Red Devils to catch us in third place.
Montemurro spoke to the media after the game - and here’s what he had to say:
on his nerves…
The pressure was on today and it was a different kind of pressure, but we knew that we had to get a result today and then we can bring it home next week. I was probably a little bit disappointed more than anything because we did everything right today. We didn’t set up properly for one silly little cross and throw in, and that’s disappointing, but the job is done and the character of the girls shone through.
on Everton starting with five at the back…
It did (surprise me). We thought that they’d be a 4-1-4-1 in the defensive phase and then push three forward, but it really surprised me because they dropped right off and we effectively had to score through a third man run through Katie McCabe from deep. But I think we were very, very good in the first half and in the second half we took a little bit of time to adjust with Kim Little popping up between and then we started dominating again, but as I keep on saying, it’s all well and good creating chances, but you need to finalise the game.
on how he used Kim Little and Lia Walti to exploit Everton…
Basically, I just wanted Kim to drop a little bit lower in build up to pull out one of their block of four, which would then allow one of our 10s, 9s or wingers to enter the space that she’d emptied. We got through a few times and in the end it was just a matter of finalising the action. We just thought we’d make it exciting for guys and score right at the end!
on Kim Little’s penalty…
There’s so many words to describe how brilliant Kim is and how fantastic she is for the group, as a player and in pressure moments too. That’s why she’s a world-class player, she handles these pressure moments.
on whether we stepped off or Everton stepped up in the second half…
Everton were reducing spaces a lot better and we probably weren’t quick enough in terms of changing our point of attack. They went for about 10 or 15 minutes, but then they dropped off and I think we started to reengage and be a bit more positive. But yes, I think it was Everton, they were definitely a little more brave in reducing those spaces and coming at us.
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