Manchester United forward Ella Toone is enjoying the freedom she is being afforded for both club and country under Marc Skinner and Sarina Weigman respectively.
Our no.7 is currently on international duty with England and netted a historic opener in the first-ever women’s Finalissima, against Brazil, which the Lionesses went on to win after a penalty shootout at Wembley.
In the press conference prior to the friendly against Australia, Toone discussed how her roles for each team are similar.
In the press conference prior to the friendly against Australia, Toone discussed how her roles for each team are similar.
“I think it’s finding those pockets of space and getting on the ball and being brave [enough] to make something happen,”she explained.
“I try and get on the ball and create things in the final third.
“I think from both managers, it has given me the freedom and have confidence and belief in me to go out there and show what I can do.”
Not only does she get to play in her favoured role for both United and England, but she gets to do so alongside her best friend Alessia Russo.
Asked about our no.23 in the presser, Toone opened up on how they’re loving playing together.
Asked about our no.23 in the presser, Toone opened up on how they’re loving playing together.
“We’re joined at the hip! We’re best friends,”she said.
“We love playing together, we love being around each other, we love each other’s company, and that will never change.
“Right now we’re at England and we’re spending every day together and we’re playing football together and that’s the main thing.”
The duo will return to Manchester later this week, when we take on Brighton at Leigh Sports Village in the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup.
But first up is a friendly against one half of this year’s Women’s World Cup hosts, Australia.
Toone is hoping to put the lessons learned against Brazil into practice on Tuesday evening, saying:
Toone is hoping to put the lessons learned against Brazil into practice on Tuesday evening, saying:
“I think every game we play we always take lots of [lessons] from.
“The [Brazil] game in the first half we put on a great show, and we kept the ball really well and the second half changed.
“We’ve reflected on it and we’ve learned a lot from it.”
Their clash with the Aussies will kick off at 19:45 BST.
Plenty of our Reds are also in action tonight, and in the early hours of Wednesday morning, as the final round of international fixtures unfolds before the domestic season resumes.
TUESDAY 11 APRIL
Portugal v WALES (17:30)
Sweden v NORWAY (17:30)
SCOTLAND v Costa Rica (19:35)
ENGLAND v Australia (19:45)
FRANCE v CANADA (20:10)
WEDNESDAY 12 APRIL
United States v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (00:30)
*All kick-off times are in BST.