Women's Super League

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers praised Alessia Russo's performance against Real Madrid and said the England forward is playing at a "very high level".

Russo scored twice to help Arsenal overturn a two-goal defecit against Real Madrid and reach the semi-finals of the Women's Champions League.

The 26-year-old is also the club's top scorer in the Women's Super League this season, with 10 goals in 17 games.

"I think she's from from the day she she came to Arsenal, I've been very impressed with her football and qualities," Slegers said.

"I think the way she goes about it now, how she's very determined and feisty, and wants to contribute so much to the team, and believes in what she can contribute with - that's on a very high level at the moment.

"She's so consistent, so whatever the circumstance or the result, or whatever it is, she is always going to be there and deliver the same the same thing."

Here are more key lines from Slegers' news conference before they face Crystal Palace on Sunday (14:00 BST):

• Lina Hurtig and Laia Codina are unavailable, while Lotte Wubben-Moy remains sidelined because of injury.

• Slegers said her Arsenal side "thrive" at the Emirates.

• She expects Crystal Palace to "put everything on the line" on Sunday.

• January signing Jenna Nighswonger is "so good on the ball", but Slegers said the physicality of the WSL is "new" to the American.

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Cushing said Manchester City will get over their Champions League exit quickly and turn their focus to finishing the campaign strongly.

City are all but out of the title race but still have an FA Cup semi-final to contest and are seven points off the European places with five games remaining.

"I think we will get over this quickly because we know what we have to play for," Cushing said. "We have to chase those teams above us for the Champions League places so it's about focus now.

"As the coach you have to analyse where we can potentially make up that ground. It starts with us having to win. We have to be in distance with those three games.

"We know the finish Manchester United have so there is an opportunity in my opinion. We don't get that opportunity if we don't get the points in the Brighton games and the subsequent league fixtures."

Here are more key lines from Cushing before Sunday's game against Brighton (14:00 BST)

• One positive to take from the Champions League exit was the minutes home-grown players got: "We have a huge responsibility and a huge desire to develop our own players. For Gracie Prior and Lily Murphy it was an amazing experience."

• On Lauren Hemp's injury latest, Cushing said: "She is still with the performance team so that would indicate that she is not imminently returning in my plans."

• Alex Greenwood is back on the grass and is "closer" to a return. Cushing "it's about trusting the performance team. They are doing an incredible job."

Image source, Getty Images

Robert Vilahamn says it's been a "tough year" for his Tottenham side, but that they "need to learn from this" for next season.

Spurs are on a six-game losing streak in all competitions and sit ninth in the Women's Super League.

"Losing games is not fun, and not when you do it in a row like that," Vilahamn said.

"But the main thing with all things about football and life is that you just keep going.

"We still have a clear view what we're going to do, but we had a tough year and we need to learn from this instead of just feeling like everything is dark."

Here are more key lines from Vilahamn's news conference before Spurs' trip to Leicester on Sunday (14:00 BST):

• Bethany England remains unavailable because of injury.

• Jessica Naz has "so much potential" to challenge for a place in England's squad for the Euros.

• Asked why Spurs have struggled to score recently, Vilahamn said: "It's a mixture of how we play, how we create chances, and where we are with the self confidence".

• Vilahamn believes his side have "a good chance to get a good game and a good result" against Leicester.

• He said WSL sides "shouldn't be dealing with" poor quality pitches.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea return to WSL action fresh from securing their place in the Women's Champions League semi-finals - but manager Sonia Bompastor says there will be no distractions for her players.

The Blues sit eight points clear at the top of the WSL table as they seek to win the quadruple this season.

They face a West Ham team in form with Rehanne Skinner's side picking up seven points from their last four matches.

"My players are really competitive and want to win every single game. The one on Sunday will be no different for that reason," said Bompastor.

"We have experience enough in the squad and in the staff to just focus on the league. Our goal now is to win the title as quick as possible.

"To do that, we really have to win on Sunday. I will always put out my best team to make sure we achieve that goal."

Here are more key lines from Bompastor's media conference:

• She says there were no major concerns in terms of player availability following Thursday's impressive victory over Manchester City.

• Players returning from injury will not be back until after the international break.

• Bompastor says every game has as much importance as each other, no matter what competition it is Chelsea are competing in.

• She joked it will be nice to see different players and staff having met Manchester City four times in a row in the past two weeks.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool interim boss Amber Whiteley said she still wants the nanager's job on a permanent basis.

Whiteley has won three of her four games in charge, with her first defeat coming in last week's game at Arsenal.

Reflecting on her time in charge so far, she said: "Absolutely loved it. We have good people here in the building, great staff, great players, a fantastic club to work for so nothing has changed on that front.

"I'm not sure if I've had time to reflect from a personal standpoint. From a team perspective it's affirmed what I knew already - We have really good people in the room, a really talented playing squad. They have been able to really show themselves in this last block of games.

"They have shown great character and great quality. I am super pleased with them and I am really proud of them too."

Here are more key lines from Whiteley before Sunday's game against Aston Villa (kick-off 14:00 BST)

• On if the aim is to finish fifth this season, she said: "That's something we can aspire to. Other than the position in the league we want to improve every week, we want to improve the performances. That's just as big a focus for us as where we finish in terms of our league position."

• On what a 'typical' Liverpool performance is, she said: "Organised, with ant without the ball you should see a clear structure. Work ethic, hard running, goals and good at defending our own goal too."

• Jaz Matthews "has been absolutely fine" this week after her two own goals against Arsenal.

• Hannah Silcock "had a little setback" earlier this week and remained sidelined, but Whiteley expects her to return soon.

Image source, Getty Images

Marc Skinner says he is "so proud" of Ella Toone and how she deals with the pressure of being Manchester United's "most iconic player".

Toone's father Nick died in September, and the England international said in an interview, external with the Daily Mail this week that Skinner had helped her through that difficult period.

Asked about Toone's praise, Skinner said: "I am extremely proud of her for the way she has been able to deal with the most tragic thing in her life.

"She's been fantastic for us. I just want to push her more and help her get better and better for club and country.

"This year especially, she has just become the most incredible young woman that deals with pressure, that deals with football and life, and the spotlight of being Man United's probably most iconic player. I'm just so proud of her."

Here are the key lines from Skinner's news conference before they host Everton in the Women's Super League on Sunday (12:00 BST):

• Gabby George is suspended for Sunday's game, but Celin Bizet and Anna Sandberg are back in training after going off injured against Aston Villa.

• United have got to "sharpen focus" and treat Everton "with the upmost respect".

• Skinner said Brian Sorensen's side are "playing really well, scoring goals and defending well" and have "two fast, aggressive forwards".

• Elisabeth Terland "defies her years" and is "absolutely deadly" in the box.

• Skinner said he needs his players to focus on "trying to get Champions League, trying to finish as high as possible, trying to get through to the FA Cup final and win that" rather than focusing on this summer's European Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Dario Vidosic said "it is a nice reflection of the programme" to have three Brighton players called-up to the senior England squad for the first time.

Midfielder Maisie Symonds received her first senior call-up for the upcoming games against Belgium, Fran Kirby returned to the squad and Nikita Parris was also called-up.

"It is a nice reflection of the program to have three current Lionesses and many other nationalities coming from the club," he said. "It's more credit to the girls for the hard work they put in and its deserved.

"I got the call from Sarina to let me know and when she mentioned Maisie as well you're even more excited because it's a maiden call-up.

"We're all very happy for her. She said she has been very emotional and crying. It shows what it means and I know what it means when you get that phone call. That first one is one you never forget. I know the meaning and the weight it carries when you get to represent your country."

Here are more lines from Vidosic before Sunday's game against Manchester City (14:00 BST):

• Brighton are facing a "wounded animal" in City after their Champions League exit but Vidosic said "we have to be prepared for their best version because if City get going we know how good they are."

• He isn't worrying about securing a fifth-placed finish: "We want to finish as high as we can. It doesn't take much bearing until that final whistle is blown."

• On Kirby, Parris and Kiko Seike each scoring five goals, he said: "It's something we wanted to have more contributions towards the goal. We wanted to be not so much predictable but have more people in goalscoring situations. We have created a lot of really good chances that we have been unable to put away. The positive is we are still creating chances."

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo said the threat of relegation from the Women's Super League this season is something her players "need to deal with".

Villa find themselves in a precarious position, one point above bottom-placed Crystal Palace in the relegation zone with five games remaining.

"It's something we need to deal with because we are not fighting for the title. We are fighting for not being relegated," Arroyo said.

"That's the reality. It's not that we ignore that, but we are not talking about that every day."

Arroyo added that the team's psychologist is doing extra work with the players to help them deal with the potential pressures of relegation.

"The key point is, how can we still play dealing with the pressure, but not making this pressure be bad for us," she said.

Here are more key lines from her news conference before Sunday's WSL trip to Liverpool (14:00 BST):

• Noelle Maritz is back after serving a one-game suspension, but Rachel Corsie and Sarah Mayling remained sidelined because of injury.

• Arroyo is pleased Lucy Staniforth has returned from injury and said she will make Villa "stronger".

• She expects a difficult game against Liverpool, adding: "They're in a better position than us, with bigger confidence, but I feel we're ready".

• Villa are "disappointed" with their 4-0 defeat by Manchester United last weekend and "want to be more competitive".

• Arroyo changed formation in that game "to find more solutions in possession and to try to defend a little bit better different situations".

Image source, Getty Images

Brian Sorensen said his Everton side are "more prepared" to take on Manchester United this time around.

Everton were beaten 1-0 by Marc Skinner's side in September with Grace Clinton scoring the only goal against her former club.

"Earlier on in the season, in the reverse game, we should have got something out of it," Sorensen said. "It feels like years ago with the squad we have now. We feel more prepared to take the teams above us on and also with different solutions.

"Overall, we are in a good place. We know it is going to be extremely hard. We need to be ready for the game, that is for sure.

"We have a game plan and we see opportunities where we can hurt them. We have to concentrate for 90 minutes, if we don't they will take advantage of it."

Image source, Getty Images

Leif Smerud said his Crystal Palace side "is not a team that has given up" as they battle to avoid relegation and stay in the Women's Super League.

Palace are bottom of the WSL, one point adrift of Aston Villa in 11th with five games remaining.

Smerud, who took charge last month following the sacking of Laura Kaminski, said he is "facing reality" as Palace fight for survival.

"I believe in facing reality. So the reality now is that we're out of out of the league at the moment, but we have a really good chance of getting back in if we if we do the job in our games now," he said.

"You can either fight or you can give up. I know what I prefer and I think I know what the players prefer as well, so we're going to go for it."

Asked what he has learned since joining Palace, Smerud said: "I've learned that this is not a defeated group. This is not a team that's given up."

Here are more key lines from Smerud's news conference before Sunday's game against Arsenal (14:00 BST):

• Smerud believes his side can "give a fight to a lot of teams".

• Asked about facing Arsenal, he said "the underdog always has a chance".

• He watched the Gunners' Champions League win at the Emirates on Wednesday, and said they proved that they are a "strong side".

• Smerud has "loved" the challenge since becoming Palace boss.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner says her side are becoming "a real force to be reckoned with" after an upturn in form.

The Hammers beat Tottenham 2-0 on Sunday after they held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw the week before.

Asked what has been behind the team's recent success, Skinner said: "We're obviously just more composed structurally and just in terms of how we manage the game in and out of possession.

"We've been effective when we've gone forward scoring as well. So obviously we've got goals out of games.

"I think when we are transitioning to attack, we're becoming a real force to be reckoned with.

"We're capable of scoring goals against anybody."

Here are more key lines from Skinner's news conference before Sunday's trip to Chelsea (16:30 BST):

• She said playing Chelsea twice since mid-January "stands us in good stead" of what to expect from the Blues.

• Skinner added: "We know it's going to be a challenge. We know they're at the top of the table for a reason."

• Viviane Asseyi is in "fantastic form" and it's a "fantastic achievement" for her to have equalled her best WSL scoring record (six goals) with five games left.

• Tenacity and desire on the pitch is a "non-negotiable" for Skinner, who said it is an attribute she looks for when recruiting players.

• The quality of pitches has "not painted a very good picture about the women's game" in recent weeks.

Image source, Getty Images

Amandine Miquel said last week's victory over Brighton is the "closest" her Leicester side have come to playing the way she wants.

The Foxes scored three first-half goals and held off a late charge from Brighton to win 3-2 and pull six points clear from the bottom of the table.

"This game is the closest we've been to what I like the team to look like," said Miquel, who took charge in the summer.

"I'm not really a fan of having the ball. It has been long for the players to understand that when you don't have the ball, you can still win games.

"Everyone thinks that having the ball makes you a winner, which is not always the case."

She added: "It's starting to look like I want it to look like.

"Defensively, it's not good enough yet. We've taken too many goals in the second phase, and we have to improve that. But on the offensive aspects, I think the last games' first half looks closer to what they'd like to have."

Here are the key lines from Miquel's news conference before facing Tottenham on Sunday (14:00 BST):

• She has "lost count" of the number of injuries her side are dealing with.

• Miquel would not confirm if Missy Goodwin had recovered from illness and would be back in the squad on Sunday.

• The Leicester boss wants her side to have "no regrets" after their game against Tottenham.

• She said previously in the season, anyone "that could kick a ball was playing forward" because of injuries, but now there is a "fight" to be in the starting XI.

• Leicester will be "fighting in every game, even if it's just to climb up one position".

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said midfielder Sophie Ingle is "in a really good place" as she steps up her recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The Wales international has not featured this season and suffered the injury during Chelsea's pre-season win over Feyenoord in September.

The 33-year-old is out of contract this summer and Bompastor said there is no update on that front yet.

"Sophie Ingle is doing really well and is in a really good place," Bompastor said.

"I saw her again today and she is really happy. Her rehab is going well. We have had some conversations with Sophie. She is a really important player for us but I don't have any updates specifically on the contract.

"You know Sophie is important for us and we are talking every day. She is in a really good place."

The latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast is out now as Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines react to England manager Sarina Wiegman's latest squad to face Belgium in their Nations League double header.

The team talk Chelsea and Manchester City as the two sides head into their fourth and final meeting, plus a look at how the Women's Super League relegation battle is shaping up and who is most likely to stay up.

Listen on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have confirmed forward Geyse will spend the remainder of the season on loan at Gotham FC.

She will be with the United States club for the full National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season, which runs until November.

The Brazilian posted an emotional message about feeling lonely and unhappy at United following their Women's Super League victory over Leicester this month.

The 26-year-old was granted compassionate leave after the death of her brother and missed four matches across January and Februrary.

United were accused by her agent, external of trying to loan Geyse out to clubs in the United States while she attended her brother's funeral.

"The loan deal is important to Geyse as we continue to have her wellbeing at the centre of our decision-making," said United's interim head of women's football Matt Johnson in a club statement.

Geyse has made 11 appearances in all competitions this season, including six starts.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Villa Park

Manchester United were given a huge boost before they had even kicked a ball when Chelsea's late winner went in at Etihad Stadium, inflicting a costly defeat on rivals Manchester City earlier on Sunday.

It was added motivation as United knew they would move seven points clear with victory at Villa Park and firm up their position in the top three.

Manager Marc Skinner stressed afterwards that their work was far from complete but admitted he felt good after an impressive evening in Birmingham.

Proof of United's dominance was in the 4-0 scoreline as they put Aston Villa to the sword and bounced back emphatically from their defeat at Liverpool last weekend.

Defensively sound, dangerous in wide areas and clinical in front of goal - it was a solid performance from Skinner's side, albeit against struggling opponents.

Elisabeth Terland shone with two goals, while Grace Clinton and Leah Galton's efforts paid off when they extended United's tally.

Villa struggled to compete and never found a way back into the game. This was a United team with a point to prove and they made it impressively.