Following Tuesday’s announcement that Aston Villa defender Anita Asante is set to retire at the end of the season, Villans head coach Carla Ward was full of admiration for the Barclays FA Women’s Super League stalwart.
In her latest press conference, Ward announced that Asante will be given the captain’s armband for Aston Villa’s remaining two Barclays FA Women’s Super League games, leading the team out against Arsenal and Birmingham City.
Speaking about the impact Asante has had on the women’s game Ward remarked, “She’s an absolute legend. I don’t think she gets the credit her career deserves, she’s probably one of the most decorated footballers this country has ever seen.
“Humble, honest, she helps the younger players, the senior players and has helped me massively. I’m still young in my management career so I do look to the senior players, sometimes I bring her into the meeting room for a chat and she helps me out. She is an outstanding human being and I want to keep her here next year; in what capacity I don’t know but she’s an absolute joy to be around.”
Asante’s career has spanned an incredible 19 years, with spells at Arsenal, Sky Blue FC, Göteborg and Chelsea culminating in her arrival at Aston Villa in 2020, where she has seen out her last two seasons of professional football, playing a vital role in The Villans’ back line. Alongside her domestic pursuits, the 37-year-old has enjoyed an impressive international career, winning 71 caps for England and representing Team GB at a home Olympic Games in 2012.
Asante has spoken this week about wanting to go out on her own terms and Ward admits she has known of her intention to hang up her boots for a while, however, this did not stop the Villa boss trying to persuade her otherwise, admitting, “I pulled her about a month ago and said listen, I know you are seriously considering retiring, but you are in the form of your life, can we convince you to stay another season?
“She actually went away and considered it for a few days and I’m thinking brilliant, she’s staying but a couple of weeks ago, I asked if she had fully decided and she said she had, that she wanted to finish on a high this season and I respect that decision, I couldn’t keep nagging.”
Fittingly, on Sunday, Asante will return to the place it all started, as Villa face Arsenal, where they will be looking to continue their strong run of form and avenge the 4-0 defeat they suffered in October’s reverse fixture.
Discussing how her side will approach the game Ward said, “With freedom, with no fear whatsoever. We have an opportunity to express ourselves against one of the best teams in the country and like last week, we’re not going there to make up the numbers, we’re going there to play a game of football and hopefully get something from it.
“What will give the group hope and belief is the way we’ve played since Christmas. We’ve run teams close and since we conceded that 95th-minute heart-breaking winner against Chelsea, we’ve conceded just two goals in the following four games which shows where we’re at. The pressure’s all on Arsenal, they’ve got to beat us, so we’ll go out and enjoy it.”
Regarding team news, Ward admits that her side are light on numbers ahead of this weekend, though they will be boosted by the return of Hannah Hampton. Midfielders Jill Scott and Chloë Arthur are both injured, along with captain Remi Allen, who suffered a ruptured ACL in Sunday’s draw with Manchester United. Allen has been a key cog in The Villans’ midfield this season. In addition to her invaluable leadership, the 31-year-old has appeared in 19 of Villa’s 20 league games, scoring some crucial goals.
“It’s horrible news for Remi,” said Ward. “She’s been absolutely sensational, I think quite arguably one of the best players that we’ve had all season, so that’s a massive loss. She’s naturally gutted but we’ll keep her involved as best we can, she’s got a lot to offer around the group.”
Despite the reduced numbers, Ward was keen to emphasise the opportunity this slate of injuries presents for other members of her squad this weekend, saying, “We’ll be pulling some of the academy players up to make the trip, but it’s a good chance for those that haven’t been playing too.
“No matter who is out there on Sunday, I have full belief in my players. There’s a real togetherness and hunger in the camp, so whoever is in that starting XI at the weekend, they will be ready.”
Aston Villa’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture at Arsenal kicks-off at 2.15pm on Sunday.