Reaction'We put absolutely everything in' - Amber Whiteley on Liverpool 3-1 Man Utd
Amber Whiteley hailed Liverpool FC Women for putting ‘absolutely everything in’ to a first ever Barclays Women’s Super League win at Anfield.
The Reds made it three consecutive victories under the guidance of the interim manager and ended the wait for three points in L4 by defeating Manchester United 3-1 on Friday night.
Quickfire goals from Olivia Smith and Fuka Nagano before the break gave them an advantage that was later increased by the former from the penalty spot.
Maya Le Tissier netted a consolation for United in the closing moments but Whiteley was able to toast a memorable display and result from the squad.
Read a summary of her post-match reaction with BBC Sport below…
On Smith’s talent…
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. 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.
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On the messages she has instilled in the team…
When you play against the top teams – any team – you’ve got to be defensively organised and that’s something we’ve tried to instil over the last couple of weeks. 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.
On how impressed she has been with the players adapting, with four missing due to illness…
I think it just shows the quality and the depth we’ve got in the squad. 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.
On a positive week with wins over Arsenal and United, and how she has gone about making an impact…
Hard work, good preparation. No secret really. 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.
On whether she has changed her approach from being an assistant to interim manager…
I’ve had to step up and lead from the front. I was at the back of the room before, in a completely different role. I’ve just tried to lead from the front and lead by example. I hope they see me taking my opportunity, and the ones who have come into the team tonight have done that as well.
On if she is enjoying it…
Yeah, I absolutely love it. We’ve got brilliant people at the club, that’s not just the backroom staff and the players, it’s absolutely everyone from when you walk through the door at Melwood. It’s an absolute pleasure. I love Liverpool Football Club and it’s the people that make it.
On what the team can achieve until the end of 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.