WSL: Aston Villa manager Natalia Arroyo ‘learns from Man United the most’ | OneFootball

Aston Villa will host Manchester United in the Women’s Super League this Sunday and manager Natalie Arroyo spoke to the media ahead of the clash.

With the WSL in its second week since the winter break, Villa are currently sat in the middle of the table with 16 points. A tally they share with newly promoted London City Lionesses. Although, the Villans are one spot ahead in the table, which is something they’ll hope will remain after this weekend’s fixture.

Manchester United on the other hand, are fighting the battle of entering the top four, as they sit on 22 points. One point separates United and fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur. It could be a crucial game for both sides.

Villa will be looking to build on their momentum from their last WSL fixture against Brighton, where they came from behind in the second half to beat them 2-1. They’ll also be hoping to see out a second successive win over United this season.

Facing tough opponents

With Manchester United coming off the back of the League Cup semi-final win against Arsenal on Wednesday, Arroyo says they’re looking to use that mid-week game to their advantage.

“You suppose they have more tired legs than us. They played Wednesday, whereas we didn’t. But saying that, they’re coming off the back of getting to a final.”

Arroyo says her team need to be clinical against such a physical side in and out of possession. But if they take their chances, she believes Aston Villa can take all three points.

“Manchester United are one of the teams I learn from the most. They are super physical, one of the most physical behind Chelsea. We need to have the best strategy to manipulate them, both in and out of possession. They are very aggressive. We need to be really clinical, we need to be strong. We need to make the most of our chances.”

Building on November’s win

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Villa are hoping to use their win from the meeting between the two sides back in November where Villa won the game 1-0, thanks to a goal from Miriael Taylor in the first half. That’s something they’re hoping to do again on Sunday. Although they know that United will be aiming for that not to be the case.

“I expect a strong Man United, an angry man United after the result in November,” Arroyo said. “They are really strong, they compete really well. We expect them to come to beat us from November. We need to get a clean sheet and get one more goal than them.

“Some of the ideas will be the same because we will put them under pressure, and not allow them to play their ideal game. We need to dominate, in and out of possession. Dominating out of possession will be important.”

What individual players can bring to the game

Anna Patten has been a key player for Villa this season, and she’s one of the players who Arroyo sees as a leader.

“Anna leads our back line and she has this good way of competing,” the Villa boss continued. “She’s thinking, leading, talking, watching, singing. She makes us really strong. We use the skills she has to make us strong and progress.”

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Young players are also crucial to Villa’s success this season. Two of those are striker Georgia Mullett and full-back Rachel Maltby. Arroyo says they are two excellent players who are showing why they deserve to be in the senior squad.

“They are excellent professionals and excellent kids. They are so unpredictable with their performance — they force themselves to play at senior level. We’re trying to have super honest conversations every week.

“They are training super hard and showing why they need to be with us. They have the international experience as well. We are planning with them for present and for future.”

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