Brighton & Hove Albion manager Hope Powell says that the pressure is on Arsenal ahead of the two sides’ Vitality Women’s FA Cup semi-final at Meadow Park this weekend.
The Seagulls are bidding to reach a first-ever Vitality Women’s FA Cup final, however, beating this weekend’s opponents Arsenal is by no means an easy task.
When speaking in her pre-match press conference in which FAWSL Full-Time were present, Brighton & Hove Albion boss Powell said that the pressure is on Arsenal and there is more for the Sussex club to win from the game than lose.
“We have got more to gain than we have to lose,” Powell said. “That takes the pressure off and I would argue that it puts a little bit of pressure on Arsenal.
“We have prepared as best we could with the players left (not on international duty) and we will prepare the best that we can again tomorrow when everybody is in and we will just go from there.”
The winners of the tie will be determined on the day with penalties used as a deciding factor if needed. Powell went on to say that the squad have been proactive with their practice from 12 yards.
She said “The players have been practicing penalties just in case but I have just left them to it to be honest, I don’t need to see that.
“They are being professional, doing their jobs and preparing for the game at the weekend in the same way that they would prepare for every game.”
Brighton & Hove Albion’s women’s team have never been to Wembley while the men’s side have been to the national team on just a handful of occasions. Powell believes that contesting a Vitality Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley would be a further marker of the club’s success and an occasion for everyone to enjoy.
“For the women’s team, it would be history and if it did happen, the community, the club, would absolutely get behind the team,” Powell said. “What a fantastic opportunity to go and support your team at Wembley, that’s what it would mean.
“It would be a really good marker for the club, it would show progress and would just be a fantastic occasion that the players, the fans and the owners would enjoy.”
The Vitality Women’s FA Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion kicks-off at 4.45pm on Sunday afternoon and will be broadcast live on BBC Two.
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