Watford FC Women Head Coach Damon Lathrope has looked ahead to Sunday’s (January 14, 1pm KO) FA Cup fourth round clash with Women's Super League giants Arsenal.
Read what he had to say below...
On the mood in the camp:
We’re really looking forward to the game. We’ve just had the break for Christmas and we’re eager to get back out on the pitch. It’s a unique one. Everyone loves the FA Cup and who knows what could happen? We’re going to have a good go at it. We want to give a good representation of our programme here at Watford.
On dual-signed Arsenal trio Michelle Agyemang, Laila Harbert and Katie Reid:
We’re allowed to play them. Arsenal have been really good to us and let us have them for the game which is brilliant for us and brilliant for the girls in my opinion. The experience they will get from it, I know it’s at Boreham Wood but it’s a sell-out crowd against some of the best players in the world that they are used to training with. It will be a good experience for the girls and they definitely help us, so I think everyone benefits from them being available.
On facing world-class players:
For sure we have to think about our set-up and our structure to give ourselves the best chance of making sure we’re in the game and we’re making it as hard for Arsenal as possible, without completely sacrificing what we’re good at and losing our identity in the process. We’ve got to find that balance. It’s something we’re working on and talking to the players about. We don’t want it to just be all about Arsenal, we want it to be about us as well.
They are full of world-class talent. Most of our players, and they won’t mind me saying, are used to watching them on the telly, not competing with them on the pitch. It’s a good occasion for the fans, the players, the staff, everyone. And we’re really confident that we can go and give a good account of ourselves. These games didn’t come around too often. We’ve got players in our group for who it is an opportunity to show what they have got, as we have players with aspirations to go and play at higher levels, and staff who have aspirations to work at higher levels. It’s a good test for us all.
