Skinner: We've rediscovered identity

The comments came as we prepare for the final Women’s League Cup group fixture, against Newcastle, on Wednesday evening.

A resounding 4-0 victory against Liverpool on Sunday at Leigh Sports Village was just what the team needed after the international break, to start off a three-game week in style.

On Tuesday morning, Skinner spoke to the press about performance levels, rotating the squad and how the mentality has shifted...

WE’VE GOT OUR IDENTITY BACK

“We’ve come off a good performance, one that got us a little bit back to who we are, a little bit more of our identity. I think the girls are feeling good from that. I think what people forget is that actually the players feel it themselves when they don't get the results they want. They want to impres sand they want to perform and so I think we got back to that, to be honest, against Liverpool.

“It’s just that frustration, the fact that they know what they can deliver. I think sometimes it gets to a point where you just put a mental shift in. We may have the best defensive record in Europe. Because of the goals Chelsea conceded the other day, we're the best in this league for goals conceded. It's a foundation to build from. We want to attack and we want to defend less by attacking more. We're embedding a new midfield, a new way of playing. I thought Hini [Miyazawa] helped that a lot on Sunday and obviously with Grace [Clinton] linked up very well. I believe we'll get back to where we are and then even the big games, we've got to put those attacking performances in. We understand that. That's part of our takeaway going into these two games.”

HINI'S TIMING IS IMPECCABLE

“We haven't always had those options [in midfield] in previous seasons. Hini for Japan tends to be like a wide forward and invasive forward. She understands that this league is way more physical and it's different and so what she adds in that midfield is the timing, the movement, the connectivity. There are teams that will physically try and put you out and stop you doing that. When I watched the game in isolation, because if you watch the game as a whole and then you break it down into just watching one person within the game, you see every micro-movement.

“When you see her micro-movements in the game; her timing is impeccable. It opens space for other people. Her weight of pass is incredible. I felt she was a real, real gel underneath the core of the team and I think with Grace's counter-pressing, with her aggressive nature, and then Dom [Janssen] with the forward passing that she had and the defensive cover, I thought we got a real nice balance against Liverpool. I think it will adapt throughout games. I think we have to be savvy on that, but what's nice is that she can create havoc for the opponent.”

WE NEED TO PLAY WITH THE SAME ENERGY

“We prepare the same for any team. We watch the opponent, we analyse them, we look at strengths and areas we can get at. Becky [Langley’s] done a great job [at Newcastle]. The team are doing a great job there. We know how passionate their fans are, like our fans. We know it's going to be a tough game, but we've got to play with the same energy we did against Liverpool with no exceptions, no excuses. If we do that, I think it'll be hard for Newcastle to live with us if we get to that level. If we don't then Newcastle will be in the game because they've got qualities and I've been impressed with the way that they've attacked the Championship. They've got big aspirations, but we need to put our performance on them."

INJURY NEWS

“Ella Toone is going to be out for these two games, but she's recovering well, hopefully then coming back, but just after the break. Same with Lisa [Naalsund]. She's going to miss these two games. Aoife [Mannion] will miss the Newcastle game but could be in contention for the Crystal Palace game [on Sunday]."

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