Women's Super League

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Gareth has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Arsenal (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He said midfielder Jill Roord is "very close" to returning from her anterior cruciate ligament injury. "I think you'll certainly see in the next week to 10 days in this cluster of games, you'll start to see Jill really close," he added.

• Taylor said Arsenal losing to Hacken in Women's Champions League qualifying won't have any impact on the game and there won't be "any change in the purpose of what both teams want to do on Sunday".

• Vivianne Miedema will get an "outstanding ovation" against her former club Arsenal and "certainly deserves it".

• Miedema scoring in the 5-0 win against Paris FC will "do a lot confidence wise" and Taylor is "really happy with her, she brings a lot to the team."

• City "don't hold any grudges" despite losing to Arsenal near the end of last season. Doing so can lead to "frustration that goes over the line and doesn’t show a true reflection of yourselves."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall wishes Vivianne Miedema "the best" as she starts a new season with Manchester City after leaving the Gunners.

Miedema spent seven years with Arsenal, grabbing 125 goals in 172 appearances.

The 28-year-old signed for City in July after Arsenal decided not to renew her contract.

Miedema scored on her debut for Gareth Taylor's side in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday and could feature against her former on Sunday as Arsenal host City at Emirates Stadium for their first game of the new Women's Super League season.

"Viv has such a great history in the club. We wish her the best, I wish her the best. " Eidevall said.

"I truly hope she has a really successful season because she deserves that.

"One of the big problems for us letting her go is now she plays for a competitor which we know is a very strong opponent against us and we need to focus on our part during the game."

City finished second in the WSL last season, five points above Arsenal.

"With Viv it works both ways. Yes, we know a lot about her but she also knows a lot about us so it's going to be who applies that knowledge best."

Arsenal boss Jonas has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Manchester City (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Leah Williamson is available for Sunday, but Steph Catley and Lina Hurtig are out of contention through injury.

• He is "so happy" for Amanda Illestedt about the birth of her daughter Mila, adding there is a plan in place for the Sweden international to return to play.

• Eidevall said playing Manchester City at Emirates Stadium is a "great way to start the season".

• He added it is a "privilege" to make the Emirates the home of Arsenal women.

• On facing former Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema, he said it "we know a lot about her, but she also knows a lot about us so it's going to be who applies that knowledge best".

• Eidevall said delivering a major trophy this season is the "end-product goal" for Arsenal, but that his team have to be "focused on the daily tasks".

• "There is no way" he will be distracted by thoughts of the second-leg of their Champions League qualifier against BK Hacken on Thursday.

• The 1-0 defeat by Hacken was a "step backwards" according to the Gunners boss.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner says there is "more pressure" on her side heading into the new Women's Super League season.

The Hammers won just three games last season and finished 11th.

"We have to go into this season with no excuses and we’ve got to want to fight for everything, we need to be more consistent with what we deliver," Skinner said.

"There is a bit more pressure around us doing well because we want to improve on last year.

"But we also want to accept, off the back of last year, everybody will be writing us off as the underdogs and that’s going on already."

West Ham have lost a core group of players in the summer transfer window, but Skinner insists her team have a "fantastic togetherness and real desire to be better than we were last year".

"Everybody that has come into the team has been in teams where they've had to fight for something and work really hard. The attitudes of the players have gone up a notch," Skinner added.

"They are all on the same page as to what needs to happen this year and that brings a new energy."

West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Women's Super League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 12:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from her news conference:

• Jess Ziu is in "good spirits" after having surgery on her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

• Defender Kirsty Smith is unavailable for selection, while Katrina Gorry will be assessed after having a viral infection earlier in the week.

• There are also a few players who have come in late that are not "90-minute ready".

• On Gorry becoming the new club captain, Skinner said: "Her influence in and around the team and how approachable she is - she has been a real positive asset to the team."

• Facing Manchester United at Old Trafford is "a great way to the start the season" and a "great opportunity" for new players "to see what the WSL is about".

• Skinner said West Ham go into the start of the season "with no excuses" despite thinking "everybody will be writing us off as the underdogs".

• On recent ACL injuries, she said the footballing calendar is something "that hasn't been addressed properly".

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool midfielder Sofie Lundgaard has committed her future to the club by signing a new contract.

The 22-year-old Denmark international has made 31 Reds appearances since arriving from Fortuna Hjorring in January 2023.

After putting pen to paper, she said: "I'm really happy and proud to extend my contract with Liverpool.

"I think it's a dream come true again and I really enjoy being here. It was really a no-brainer for me."

Liverpool begin their Women's Super League campaign against Leicester on Sunday (kick-off 14:00 BST)

Image source, Getty Images

Everton boss Brian Sorensen says the club have analysed last season's injury crisis to avoid the same problem in their 2024-25 Women's Super League campaign.

Following last season's festive period, several of Everton's key players were sidelined because of injury.

Despite the long list of injuries, Sorensen's side managed to finish eighth in the WSL.

"That's something we looked at and we also analysed where a lot of the injuries came from," Sorensen said when asked about last season's injury crisis.

"I think going away with the national team because it was Nations League, so really tough games, and our league is extremely tough.

"So prepare them better and a better dialogue with the national teams because I think 60-70% of the injuries we got were in and around national team periods. We hopefully have learned from that and manage better."

Sorensen added that there were also "a lot of freak accidents" that he hoped his players could avoid this year.

"We just have to see if we can help keep our players healthy," he said.

Everton boss Brian Sorensen has been speaking to the media before their opening Women's Super League game against Brighton on Saturday (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Everton had a "good, but long" pre-season "without any injuries".

• On facing Manchester United and Arsenal in their first two games of the season, Sorensen said he wants to "start as well as possible".

• He has been watching footage of Melbourne City to prepare for Brighton under new boss Dario Vidosic, who coached the Australian team before moving to the WSL.

• Sorensen has a "good idea" of how he wants to play against the Seagulls.

• On avoiding an injury crisis like last season, he said the club needed to prepare their players better for international duty and have a better dialogue with national teams.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton have signed goalkeeper Rylee Foster on a short-term contract until January 2025.

The 26-year-old, who has represented Canada at youth level, has previously played in the Women's Super League with Liverpool.

She returns to Merseyside after spending last season in Australia with Wellington Pheonix, where she made 19 appearances.

The club have also brought in midfielder Lauren Thomas on a short-term contract.

The 24-year-old spent five seasons with Blackburn in the Championship and made 24 appearances last season.

Everton begin their 2024-25 WSL campaign away at Brighton on Saturday (kick-off 12:30 BST).

New Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor says she is feeling "very happy" about her start to life at Chelsea.

The Frenchwoman, 44, has taken over at the Blues following the departure of Emma Hayes after 12 years at the club.

Bompastor, who won the Women's Champions League three times as manager of Lyon, will be in the Chelsea dugout as they being their Women's Super League title defence at home to Aston Villa on Friday.

Image source, Getty Images

Laura Kaminski says her newly-promoted Crystal Palace side must be prepared to face "world class players" in the Women's Super League.

Kaminski wants Palace to keep the attacking approach that helped win them the Championship last season, while also adapting to the step-up to the WSL.

"There are elements of that style that I want to take and carry forward into the WSL, but equally we know things are going to be more challenging, more difficult," Kaminski said.

"We've got to be resilient in terms of dealing with those challenges."

Palace scored 55 goals in 22 league matches last season - 16 more than the next best team.

"The differences in the leagues are huge and last year we scored a phenomenal amount of goals and set quite a few records for the club in terms of the attacking football and style that we had," Kaminski added.

"I never want to lose that flair. I never want to lose elements of that style, but we know that the opponent is stronger.

"We've got to blend that into a different style of play along with a new mix of players. We still want to play exciting football but be ready for the level that is in front of us.

"We know the league has world class players. We need to be prepared for what that will bring to the table."

Crystal Palace boss Laura Kaminski has been speaking to the media before the club's first Women's Super League match at Tottenham on Sunday (kick-off at 14:00 BST).

Here are the top lines from her news conference:

• The newly promoted side have "worked tirelessly" for the opportunity to play in the WSL and they are going to "grab it with both hands".

• On the club's summer signings, Kaminski said it was "extremely competitive" in the transfer market, but they’ve brought in "the calibre of player in that we are looking for to be able to cope with system changes".

• Kaminski said she "never wants to lose that flair" that helped Crystal Palace win the Championship last season.

• However, she understands the "step up is huge" between the two divisions.

• On Sunday’s opponents, Kaminski said: "Spurs have come on leaps and bounds in the last few seasons".

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City's new boss Amandine Miquel says she does not want her team to focus on "winning everything" as she prepares for her first season in charge at the club.

Miquel spent seven seasons with Reims in her native France before joining Leicester in July.

"I'm not really wanting the team, or the club or myself to focus on winning everything because you’re defeating the process," she said.

"We have to finish the game happy with what we’ve trained to do. If it is a win it is better, but if not, it is not a problem."

Leicester finished 10th in the Women's Super League table last season, after a turbulent campaign that saw manager Willie Kirk sacked in March following an investigation into an allegation he had a relationship with a player.

Miquel insists she is not targeting a specific points total or table position this season.

"The process is making the team understand what we want to do - improving game after game," Miquel said.

"Obviously we want to better than what has been done in the last two seasons, but we don’t have a specification. We’ll see how it goes."

Leicester City's new boss Amandine Miquel has been speaking to the media before her side open their Women's Super League campaign at Liverpool on Sunday (kick-off at 14:00).

Here are the key lines from her news conference:

• Miquel said she was pleased with Leicester's pre-season tour of Australia and with the "good balance" she has in her side.

• There are no new injury concerns ahead of the Foxes' trip to Merseyside.

• She wants her team to focus on the process, rather than on "winning everything", adding: "We have to finish the game happy with what we've trained to do".

• On the differences between Leicester and her former side Reims, Miquel said more staff means they can each "focus on what we are good at".

• Miquel said she was attracted by the "whole package" of "more fans" and "nicer stadiums" the the WSL has to offer.

Image source, Getty Images

Sonia Bompastor said Chelsea fans should still expect to win titles as the club start a new era under the Frenchwoman.

Bompastor, who replaced Emma Hayes, has won plenty of silverware in her managerial career and led Lyon to Champions League glory in 2022, as well as winning three league titles.

"When you're Chelsea you just want to win every title, want to compete in every competition," she said.

"We know all the teams will be ready, it'll be tough. The players are competitive and so am I so we like to be in that position where we can compete."

Chelsea kick off their title defence in the WSL season opener against Aston Villa on Friday and Bompastor wants a strong start.

"We're the holders of the title and want to start strongly in the league tomorrow night," she added.

"It's really important. Coming to Chelsea I know how competitive the league is here, if you look at Villa's results they had a good pre-season and beat Manchester City.

"We have respect for Villa, they have a good quality squad, so the first game will be important and we need to focus on ourselves by starting as strongly as we can.

"We're ready, we will have a hard time because this league is not easy but we've worked hard and feel ready for that."

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has been speaking to the media before Friday's Women's Super League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 19:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from her news conference:

• Sonia Bompastor confirmed defender Niamh Charles has had successful surgery on a dislocated shoulder.

• She said: "Surgery went well, she is in pain, but mentally she is good."

• Despite Sophie Ingle's ACL injury coming after the transfer window closed, Bompastor said: "we have the players in the squad at the minute who can play in that position."

• The ambitions to keep winning trophies is the same and Bompastor wants a positive start on Friday: "We want to win, we want to start the league strongly."

• She said it is "really clear what we want to achieve together" and that players "feel excited".

• On playing in the WSL season opener live on BBC Two, Bompastor said: "It feels amazing. This is what we like, being on TV, being able to start the league with a lot of fans in the stadium."

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton's new manager Dario Vidosic is not thinking about where the club will finish in the Women's Super League during his first season in charge.

Vidosic joined the Seagulls from Melbourne City in July, taking over from interim Mikey Harris, who guided the club to a ninth-place finish last season.

"It's not one I look at. We haven't even had the first kick of a ball of the season to look at the outcome of the end of the season," said Vidosic.

"We respect everyone. Brighton beat Manchester City last season. Everyone is beatable, you have to turn up, you have to be your best, you have to play the football and if you don’t you'll have a very hard afternoon, so we focus on ourselves."

Brighton have brought in several summer signings, including experienced England internationals Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris.

However, they have lost key players such as Katie Robinson and Elisabeth Terland -their top scorer from the last two seasons.

"We've got a good mix of players that were here last season and new ones that have come in," said Vidosic, a former Australia men's international.

"It's all relatively new. What I'm asking is probably a little bit foreign to what they've been taught and that's what makes it take a little bit more time.

"At first they probably thought I was a little bit crazy with some of the looks I was giving them. Once they started to experience it and got success from it we got that acceleration of learning.

"We always a understood it would take time. We're growing, it’s a journey."

Brighton’s new boss Dario Vidosic has been speaking to the media before their Women’s Super League opener against Everton on Saturday (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• Vidosic, who joined the club from Melbourne City in July, said he was "raring to go" and he expects his team to "wake up early with excitement" for Saturday's game.

• He would have "loved to have a bit more time" to prepare for the season, but he's seen "really positive pre-season performances".

• The former Australia international did not confirm if deadline-day signing Nikita Parris would start on Saturday, but added it "feels like she has been here from day one" despite her late arrival.

• On the standard of the Women’s Super League, Vidosic said he considered it "the best league in the world" and that he was "pleasantly surprised" there are plans for further transformation.

• He said it is "shaping up to be a really interesting game" against Everton, calling Brian Sorensen’s side a "very tough" and "well coached" opponent.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn said he won't prioritise where his side finish in the Women's Super League table over improving overall performances.

The 41-year-old led Spurs to their highest WSL finish last season as they finished sixth, four points behind Manchester United in fifth.

"If you ask me if trying to reach fifth instead of playing better football and scoring more goals, I cannot say that’s extremely important," Vilahamn said.

"Still looking at how we perform, how we score more goals, how we keep more clean sheets, it’s going to make us win more and then we are going to compete to get higher in the table."

Spurs also reached the Women's FA Cup final for the first time last season, where they were beaten 4-0 by Manchester United at Wembley.

Vilahamn hopes his players can use their experiences to build on as they prepare for a new campaign.

"We want to improve this season," he said. "Don’t misunderstand me, I want to go for the Champions League, I want to go for the [title] win, but I am also looking into this league and how big the gap was when I arrived to this league.

"We closed that gap a little bit, but you see a lot of teams invest so I would be stupid to sit here and say we are going to win this season.

"There is nothing from the board saying we need to win the league this season, so we are going to take steps to make sure we aim for the Champions League and the titles, but make sure we do it our way, with patience. We are going to push for as high up the table as possible."

Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Crystal Palace (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Shuang Wang, Ella Morris and Amy James-Turner are all unavailable for the season opener through injury.

• After James-Turner signed a new deal, Vilahamn said: "Amy showed some really good character last season. To be able to keep her helps me a lot and also helps the young players because she is always so professional and puts the standards where we want."

• Vilahamn is "really happy" with the summer signings and despite losing some players his message to fans is "I don't think they should be stressed".

• He believes Jess Naz is set for a big season: "She is a key player for us and the sky is the limit for her. How she looks in training, she is going to be so good this season."

• On facing newly-promoted Crystal Palace, he said: "They are an interesting team with a good coach. You never know how good they will be in the beginning. They can surprise many teams this season."

Image source, Getty Images

New Aston Villa boss Robert de Pauw said he is targeting a top-six finish in his first season at the club.

In her three seasons with Villa, previous boss Carla Ward guided them to their highest WSL finish as they ended in fifth place in the 2023-23 campaign.

"Top six is what we have projected," he said when asked what success will look like come May.

"If you look at the past season we were seventh and we want to do better than that. The season before we were fifth.

"It will not be easy, there is no guarantee but that is the challenge you want to face."

Former Bayer Leverkusen boss De Pauw has been working on improving the team dynamic before the new campaign and said results are starting to show on the pitch.

"The players read a book about what makes a team function and what makes a team disfunction," he said.

"They have to understand if you want to progress as a team you have to get the best out of each other.

"We made them understand these are like building blocks you need to have in a team. Blocks like trust, dealing with conflict, commitment, accountability and being goal-oriented.

"If you have these blocks the chance of success if not guaranteed but it’s bigger."