Hope Powell manager of Brighton and Hove Women Brighton and Hove Albion Women vs Birmingham City Women, WSL football match, Amex Stadium, Brighton, UK - 17 Nov 2019 Photo: Sean Ryan for The FA

‘Whoever they put out, it will be a tough game’ – Brighton boss Powell previews Manchester City

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Hope Powell says that Manchester City will be tough opponents regardless of how many players they have available for selection this weekend.

The Seagulls face The Cityzens at The People’s Pension Stadium on Sunday in what is the two sides’ first fixture of 2022.

Manchester City’s season so far has been dominated by injuries, however, Brighton & Hove Albion boss Powell has acknowledged that her side will face a tough opponent this weekend despite their injury list and she said that her side will be showing them no respect.

“Even with the injuries, I think every player that they field is a full-blown, credible international player,” Powell told FAWSL Full-Time in her pre-match press conference. “We are under no illusion that whoever they put out, it will be a tough game.

“They are starting to find a bit of form, some of their players are coming back and they are striving to climb the table, as is everybody else.

“Nobody is going to roll over because they are Man City, everybody is trying to complete (for European qualification). It is the closest that it has ever been at this point in the season and we want to stay in amongst it. We want to win the game on Sunday, as will they, we are not going to make it easy for them because they are Man City. Everybody is fighting for the same thing and we are no different.”

Powell went on to say that Manchester City have been unlucky at times this season and that the winter break will have given them the opportunity to regroup and hit the reset button.

She said “Even though they haven’t done so well, in some of the games they have been unlucky. I think some of the opposition that they have played against have really been on the front foot and have caused them problems.

“Make no mistake about it, they are a quality side but they perhaps haven’t had the luck, the injuries probably have unbalanced them a bit but in the break, they will have reset and also, some of the players are on their way back.

“It is going to be tough for us but we know that anyway.”

The Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City kicks-off at midday on Sunday.

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