Brian Sorensen Urges Calm Despite Everton’s Challenging Season Start
Everton Women’s head coach Brian Sorensen has called for patience as the team navigates a difficult start to the Women’s Super League (WSL) season. Injuries have hindered their ability to build momentum, but Sorensen remains focused on development and consistency as they prepare for an upcoming match against Aston Villa.
Current Standings and Performance
At present, Everton sits in tenth place in the WSL table ahead of their important clash with Aston Villa. The team began the season with a convincing 4-1 victory over Liverpool but has since struggled, enduring five consecutive matches without a win.
Coaching Perspective
In a recent press conference, Sorensen emphasized that he is not concerned about their league position at this early stage. “For me, there’s no panic; it’s still so early in the season,” he remarked. He insisted that progress should be measured over the entire campaign, saying, “Let’s see where we are at when we get to May.”
Injury Impact and Team Dynamics
Sorensen acknowledged how the multiple absences of key players have disrupted the team’s rhythm. He stated, “It’s a process, and we are working on a lot of things.” He noted signs of progress but highlighted the challenge posed by injuries and the lack of consistent player selection. “Hopefully, we are moving on an upward spiral now rather than down,” he added.
Upcoming Match Against Aston Villa
Everton has the opportunity to leapfrog Aston Villa in the standings with a win in their upcoming match. Villa, however, has played one game less than Everton due to a postponed match with Liverpool. Sorensen expressed confidence, saying, “We haven’t had the start that we would’ve liked, but we are just two points behind Villa.”
Team News
- Katja Snoeijs will be unavailable for the match due to injury.
- Rion Ishikawa is expected to play, while Hikaru Kitagawa and Ruby Mace have returned to full training.
- Aston Villa’s squad features Lucia Kendall, recently recognized for her first appearance with England, while they will miss Jill Baijings due to an ACL injury.
With this match looming, both teams face unique challenges as they look to improve their season. Sorensen’s call for calm and commitment to the process will be crucial as Everton aims to reverse their fortunes soon.
