We secured three valuable points in the race for the Women’s Super League title on Sunday by beating Everton 2-1 at Meadow Park.
We weren’t at our free-flowing best, but thanks to first-half strikes Louise Quinn and Vivianne Miedema, we have the opportunity to be crowned champions on Sunday when we face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex.
We spoke to Montemurro after the final whistle - and this is what he said:
on the overall performance…
You’re always going to get these games during the season where they make things a little bit difficult for you. I thought we were effective in some stages and weren’t so good in other stages. You could see that we were trying too hard to find that killer pass or the killer goal and at times that lead to transition moments, but all in all I think we did enough to get the three points.
on what needed improving…
I just think the general movements off the ball needed a little work. We’re very fluid in our movement, but today we were a little more individual in terms of our movement. We had one going, but usually we’d have a few others working off the ball too. We like to have three or four players working off the positioning, but today was more individual. We needed individual moments to solve some of the problems today, so it wasn’t as fluid as our usual play.
on taking up a more direct approach…
The direct balls were on! We don’t head out there and decide that we’re going to play direct, but if the pass is on then it can be part of our weaponry. We created three or four opportunities from using that outlet down the left in the first half, so if the pass is there then we’ll play it.
on whether we needlessly allowed Everton back into the game…
We did, but effectively they had one shot on target in the first half and that was pretty much it for the whole game. We could have put the game to bed in the first half and there were some periods in the second half where we could have punished them too, but all credit to Everton. They’re a good side, a good unit and they’re very well coached. I’m looking forward to playing them again next season.
on showing that we can win all types of games…
The reality of modern football is that you get a lot of clever players, coaches and teams that you have to break down in different ways. The basics are still the same, though. We still try to play out from the back, we still try to play our style and we still try to play on the front foot, only there may be a bit of tinkering here and there. Today our idea was to keep it low, drag them out and play the little long ball over the top, but it’s always based around having the ball.
on Brighton wanting to deliver at the Amex...
It’s great for the game. We’re really looking forward to it and we’re really going to prepare like it’s any other game. It’s another important game for us so hopefully we’ll come to the party! We’re controlling out destiny here. To be in this position where we’re controlling our destiny is great and it’s all credit to the work of the team.
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