Scottish Women's Football

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Rangers head coach Jo Potter expects more teams to sustain an SWPL title challenge this season and says it is "what the league needed".

Potter's side were pipped to glory on goal difference by Celtic last term, with the Old Firm finishing nine points clear of fellow 'big three' side Glasgow City, while Hearts were a further 19 back in fourth.

But 12 games into the new campaign, Hearts are just a point off leaders City and Hibernian are also still in the mix, with the top five clubs separated by just five points.

As she prepares for Sunday's derby meeting with Celtic, Potter said: "I think after we played City at Ibrox, I said I don't think that it's going to be as widespread as what it has been in previous years.

"You look at Hearts and Hibs and the improvements they've made. We always knew it was going to be a little bit tighter and it's what the league needed in all honesty.

"We needed more teams pushing and and having a say on what this league looks like and the title.

"It's all for the greater good of the league and I think that's why sometimes you've got to look at results and previously dropped points, a couple of points here and there might have been really detrimental, but with people taking points off everyone it's been a lot closer this year.

"There could be a little bit more leeway but we still want to make sure we're doing what we can do and get our noses ahead where we can.

"So it will be tougher this year but I always thought that each team was going to improve."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers head coach Jo Potter has been speaking with the media before the Old Firm derby away to Celtic in the SWPL on Sunday.

Here are the key points:

• Potter insists there's always an "added edge" when it comes to derby games, adding it "always brings that little more spice to it" and these matches are "the exciting ones".

• She was keen to emphasise "our mentality is always the same. We want to win. We saw last year we slipped up elsewhere and that was our downfall."

• The former England international addressed the tightness of the SWPL table, with five points separating the top five teams: "You look at the improvements Hearts and Hibs have made. It's what the league needed."

• Rangers lost two late goals to draw with Celtic in the last meeting and Potter is keen to remind her players of the things they've done well. "We were our own downfall in that last game." she said. "Hopefully we can go out there and prove we've learned from it."

• Potter insists Celtic's Champions League exertions may present a small opportunity to exploit, but says it will be the same messages regardless: "We've got to try and take every advantage that we can. We need to really make sure we're doubling down on what we can do to punish Celtic and that would be the same if they had not had a midweek game."

• Chelsea Cornet is back and trained fully this week. "She was one our players of the season last year so it's a big boost," Potter explained, reporting a "healthy" looking squad.

Celtic defender Emma Lawton, who joined from part-time side Partick Thistle in September, is loving her Champions League experience and says Elena Sadiku's side "gave a really good account of ourselves" in the 2-1 loss to Chelsea.

We asked for your views after Celtic were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea in the Champions League.

Here's what some of you had to say.

Q: Despite the loss, Celtic women were 10 times better than against Twente. Probably over for this UWCL, but who knows, future contenders?

Robert: Great game for Celtic fans to go up against a great team like Chelsea who are a big side in women's football. Even though we got beat we gave a great show. But it's just the start for good things to come. Playing against the big women's teams can only make us better for the future.

Elaine: Celtic were great in containing Chelsea, a pleasure to be there.

John: Celtic were accomplished in giving Chelsea a run for it. But to be honest I don't know what the Celtic manager is doing by leaving out Caitlin Hayes who, in my opinion, is the best Celtic player.

Davie: So many positives for Celtic. Bringing on Hayes allowed us to press more in the second half, and if the game had gone on another five minutes we'd have got a point at least. Standout for me was Celya Barclais. She's come on leaps and bounds since she came to us.

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Scotland forward and Rangers supporter Erin Cuthbert lapped up the "pelters" from Celtic fans as her Chelsea side avoided a Champions League upset.

The 26-year-old skippered the WSL champions at Celtic Park on Wednesday night as they quickly hit back from Murphy Agnew's opener with first-half strikes from Maika Hamano and Ashley Lawrence to maintain their perfect record in Group B.

Cuthbert came close to getting on the scoresheet before making way amid three Chelsea changes at half-time as the Blues shuffled their pack before Saturday’s top-of-the-table WSL meeting with Manchester City.

"It was really good. They created a great atmosphere. It was nice, exciting, hostile at times but I really enjoyed it," Cuthbert told BBC Scotland.

"I was getting some pelters a few times - I enjoyed it. I'm disappointed with the chance I put over the bar, I could have done better with that.

"The keeper made a really good save [from my shot] for the one Ashley scored. I don't care if it’s me or Ashley, it's a goal for Chelsea and that's all that matters."

Cuthbert praised Celtic’s performance and the growth of the women's game in Scotland, but is looking for a more convincing victory when the sides meet again at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.

"I'm really impressed with how the game has grown in Scotland," the former Glasgow City and Rangers player added.

"From when I left – playing on an astroturf park in the Champions League – to now playing at Celtic Park in front of thousands of noisy fans, it’s great.

"Celtic played well tonight and deserve a lot of credit for their performance. They were strucuted, compact and made it difficult for us.

"We need to play better. We'll be looking at where we can exploit them and have a better performance."

Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku praises her side's performance after they took the lead with their first-ever Champion League group-stage goal before succumbing to a 2-1 home defeat by English giants Chelsea.

After a hard-fought evening at Parkhead, Celtic almost managed to clinch something against the reigning SWPL champions.

We want your views on the game on Wednesday night. What did you make of Celtic's performance? How positive a result is it for the Glasgow side?

Have your say here, external.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Parkhead

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Celtic Park was the stage in May when Celtic clinched their maiden SWPL title, and there was another first to celebrate as they took a shock lead on 22 minutes.

Amy Gallacher produced an outstanding assist for Murphy Agnew to send an already loud home support wild.

It was the kind of move seen often from Elena Sadiku's side in the SWPL, but not in their opening defeats to Twente and Real Madrid in this competition.

The head coach said she had seen signs of growth and there was more evidence of that here.

Emma Lawton, who was playing part-time football as recently as early September, impressed again and contained half-time substitute Guro Reiten with relative ease, while Shannon McGregor was a force in midfield.

They frustrated Chelsea for large parts, even when they grew tired with their 120-minute match against Glasgow City catching up with them.

There was time for a second wind and Lucy Ashworth-Clifford showed remarkable stamina, showing no fear against previous Champions League winner Lucy Bronze, who had been introduced at half time.

Many feared a heavy loss for the Scottish champions and they can take a heap of pride from this performance.

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Lucy Ashworth-Clifford was immense all night for Celtic, looked very dangerous on the wing and put Chelsea under pressure on numerous occasions. Despite having started on Sunday as well as tonight, the attacker never looked tired.

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Former manager Fran Alonso is hoping for a "miracle" when Celtic take on heavyweights Chelsea in tonight's Champions League clash.

Alonso left the Glasgow club to charge at Houston Dash in America last year and was replaced by current boss Elena Sadiku, who will lead the side out at their first Champions League game to be played at Parkhead.

Chelsea - who have won the English title five years running - are top of Group B after two wins from two, while Celtic sit bottom after defeats by Twente and Real Madrid.

"They will be feeling very excited," Alonso told BBC Scotland.

"It does not come any better than playing at Celtic Park in front of the most passionate fans in the women's game and against probably the toughest opponent you can face right now in Europe.

"The opponent is fantastic and the competition is fantastic so I'm hoping we have a huge crowd and see an environment that everyone can enjoy.

"It's going to be tough to take points from Chelsea. They are undefeated in the Women's Super League and undefeated in the Champions League.

"But I'm hopeful that with the fans and some set-plays then maybe the miracle can happen."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

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"To have the whole team experience it is definitely a positive because I remember it being quite daunting when we did it for the first time with a big crowd."

Captain Kelly Clark is calling for her team-mates to use their past experiences of playing at Celtic Park when the SWPL champions take to the Parkhead turf for the first time in the Champions League tonight.

Elena Sadiku's side played their first game in Europe's elite competition at their new home of New Douglas Park in Hamilton, but will hear the Champions League music ring around Glasgow's East End tonight when Chelsea are in town.

Celtic haven't played at the stadium since unfurling the SWPL flag on the opening day of the season against Dundee United, but Clark is urging her team-mates to cast their minds back to that victorious day.

"We don't play here every week, so I think it was good we played the first game of the season here because it means everyone in the squad has experienced it," the defender said.

"Twente was very loud, but there's potential for it to be even louder on Wednesday night and it genuinely does change the game because you can't communicate the way you usually do and obviously, it's a bit of a mental game.

"You have to know what to expect to kind of ignore it. It's brilliant and you use it for energy, but in the grand scheme of things it's 11v11 like any other game, as hard as that is to put into practice."

Celtic clinched their maiden league title in May, which set them on the pathway for Champions League qualification, and Clark insists tonight's occasion is right up there with that historic day.

"It's the stuff dreams are made of," she added.

"Seeing the Champions League branding everywhere, to walk out to hopefully hear a big crowd cheer, to see my parents in the stand, my family, my grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, the lot, it's a huge occasion and I can't wait for it."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

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"As a football player, see if you get a bit of a hostile reception, I think it's the best thing."

It's a good thing Erin Cuthbert revels in that kind of environment, as it could well be the once she faces tomorrow at Celtic Park.

The Chelsea midfielder is from a family of Rangers fans and on her return to Glasgow with the WSL champions, she's aware a warm welcome is unlikely, but that doesn't faze her.

"We've played at the Emirates many times," the Scotland international said, "we're used to playing in big games where there is an atmosphere and the opposition wants to make it as difficult as possible.

"We enjoy it and we thrive on it. It's just about putting my best foot forward tomorrow night."

Cuthbert is used to doing that in Glasgow, having played for Rangers and Glasgow City before heading south of the border.

She left her homeland as a self-confessed "really young and naive 18-year-old girl who was working in Morrison's" but returns as "a leader" of one of the world's biggest clubs, according to head coach Sonia Bompastor.

"This was beyond my wildest dreams," Cuthbert added, "playing for Chelsea as much as I have, I feel very lucky and privileged but for me, it's never about being settled.

"It's a moment to reflect how far I've come, but also how much work I've still got to do and how far I can go. I want to know where my ceiling is."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

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"Looking at her, how she talks about the team, how she's perceived as a coach is how I want to be perceived as a coach as well."

Elena Sadiku has plenty of admiration for Sonia Bompastor, hailing the Chelsea boss as "a great role model" as the two prepare to face off at Celtic Park on Wednesday night.

It will be the first Women's Champions League match to be staged in Glasgow's East End, and has the added spice of a battle of Britain clash.

"I don't think we're going to have a bigger test than this, but we've talked about this within the team, this is something we've dreamed about so we have to enjoy the occasion and put the best performance in we can," Sadiku said when previewing Celtic's third game in Group B.

The SWPL champions have suffered back-to-back defeats to FC Twente and Real Madrid in Europe's elite competition, while WSL champions Chelsea sit top of the group with two wins from two.

Bompastor, a Champions League winner in her homeland with Lyon, was brought to London in the summer with the view of guiding Chelsea to a first victory in this competition.

And Sadiku is one of many enthusiasts of the former France international's work.

"She barely talks about herself, she always talks about the team and that shows the leader she is," the Celtic head coach added.

"I think we're only four female coaches in the competition and that's something I want to see more of.

"I want to see more female coaches of female teams especially. She's a great role model for a lot of coaches like me."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

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Head coach Elena Sadiku spoke to the media before Celtic's Champions League match against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Here are the key things she said:

• Sadiku "doesn't think we're going to have a bigger test than this" when her side face the Women's Super League champions.

• The head coach has "huge respect" for Chelsea as a team and is a real admirer of opposite number Sonia Bompastor adding, "how she's perceived as a coach is how I want to be perceived".

• She believes Celtic have "grown in the competition" when you look at the differences between Twente on matchday one and Real Madrid on matchday two: "Against Real Madrid we were confident enough to play, we got pressure on, we love the pressure and we just showed no fear in what we want to do."

• Sadiku says Caitlin Hayes, who missed the last two games, has been "resting", despite speculation the defender had been suspended by the club.

• The SWPL champions will play at Celtic Park for the first time in the Champions League and when asked about attendance, Sadiku says: "If you're a Celtic fan, you should support the big history the club are creating."

• Defender Hana Kerner and forward Kit Loferski are the only two absentees.

Scotland forward Erin Cuthbert says Celtic have "speedy, tricky players" who can cause her Chelsea side problems in a "tough" Champions League game between the sides on Wednesday night.

Hear more from Cuthbert on the Behind the Goals podcast