Aston Villa head coach Natalia Arroyo emphasizes her team’s determination to improve following last weekend’s 4-1 loss to Manchester United at Villa Park.
The Villans held their own against The Red Devils for 70 minutes before succumbing in the final moments, allowing three late goals to slip through.
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In a press conference prior to this weekend’s encounter with Everton, Arroyo expressed her team’s eagerness to bounce back.
“We need to show a bit more pride,” Arroyo stated. “The manner in which we lose matters, especially when we can’t secure a win. I expect the team to stick together during challenging times. We need to prove ourselves because we aim to compete fiercely in every match for every point.”
“Our goal is to rise higher up the table, but achieving that requires competing for the full 90 minutes, not just 70. We need to improve. The challenge ahead is to become a team that can last the distance.”
“We’re eager to elevate our performance. While there were some positive aspects to our last game, we also have areas of disappointment. We’ve had an honest discussion about it, and the team is committed to doing better.”
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In their last meeting with Everton, Aston Villa twice relinquished leads, resulting in a 3-3 draw at Villa Park in November. Arroyo acknowledged the challenges posed by Everton’s unique tactical style.
“With Everton, you can never predict how the game will unfold because of their strategic approach. They tend to create situations that are hard for opponents to adjust to,” she explained. “We’ve discussed the need to improve our possession and reduce unnecessary transitions, like those we experienced against Manchester United. We aspire to replicate the performance we had against Brighton and Arsenal earlier in the season.”
“Defensively, we must be prepared for their high mobility and the systems they employ.”
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“We aim to perform better than we did at Villa Park.”
Everton have yet to win at Goodison Park this season, increasing the pressure on manager Brian Sørensen. Despite the challenges facing The Toffees, Arroyo’s focus remains on Aston Villa’s own preparations.
“I recognize their difficulties, but I also remember they managed to score three goals against us. They’ve been struggling offensively, yet they had their best performance against us, taking advantage of the opportunities we presented.”
“I prefer not to dwell too much on their situation. I understand it and can only imagine that Brian is facing more stress than I am, but he’s capable of overcoming challenges.”
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“We’re concentrating on our own performance, especially after the defeat to Manchester United. It’s been two weeks without a win, so we are eager to secure a victory, though we know it will be a tough match.”
Aston Villa’s Barclays Women’s Super League clash with Everton is set to kick off at 11:55 AM on Sunday.