Willie Kirk (Everton) after the FA Women's Super League game between Everton and Birmingham City at Walton Hall Park in Liverpool, England - Image by Hayden Newbegin/Sports Press Photo

Everton boss Kirk happy with challenging Conti Cup group

Everton manager Willie Kirk says that he is more than happy with his side’s draw in the group stage of the FA Women’s Continental League Cup.

The Blue Girls get the competition underway with a fixture against Manchester City at The Academy Stadium on Wednesday. Everton will also face Leicester City, Durham and Manchester United before the group stage concludes in December.

With three Barclays FA Women’s Super League heavyweights in one group, Everton’s group is very much a ‘Group of Death’. However, manager Kirk is happy with the draw as he believes that the tough games will keep his squad on their toes.

“We are always in a tough group, last year was really tough as well,” Kirk told FAWSL Full-Time.

“For me, it’s really good because if you have three-game weeks, you freshen the team up to keep the energy levels high. For those players coming in, the levels are not going to take a dip because they are playing against a top team. If you feel that you want to make two or three changes to freshen it up, the players coming in are buzzing because they are playing against a big team.

“I am quite happy with tough groups but it is a group that we want to get out of. I am looking forward to playing in the Conti Cup, I think the group format should stay because it is more games and we need more games this season.”

Kirk has spoken in the past about Everton winning their first piece of silverware under the new regime, something which could act as a catalyst for further success. He echoed those comments this week and reiterated his hunger to win something with The Blue Girls.

“We want to win every game and every trophy that we are involved in, whether that’s the FA Cup, the Conti Cup, the league,” Kirk said. “Winning the first piece of silverware I think is crucial in the long term development of the team because it gets that winning feeling, that winning mentality. I think it becomes addictive, the feeling you get after winning something. That feeling drives the team onto the next trophy.

“I am desperate to win silverware at this club and if that’s the FA Cup, the Conti Cup, the league, I’m not too bothered about what it is as long as we win something.”

Everton’s FA Women’s Continental League Cup fixture against Manchester City at The Academy Stadium kicks-off at 7pm on Wednesday evening.

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