“No One Deserves It More.” – Liverpool Women’s Head Coach Gareth Taylor On Zara Shaw’s FA Cup Heroics | OneFootball

Liverpool FC Women reached the FA Cup semi-finals in dramatic fashion when Zara Shaw returned from just shy of a week out following a second ACL injury to turn home a winner against Charlton Athletic just minutes from dreaded penalties.  

The Reds dominated much of the contest but were unable to break down their stubborn hosts, who themselves look destined for promotion and top-flight football next term.

Speaking after the match, Head Coach Gareth Taylor was understandably delighted with the win and the match winner…

On Zara Shaw: “What a story, Zara Shaw. I think, when you work with Zara, and I’ve only noted her for a short period of time, but the way people speak about her at the club, it couldn’t happen to a better person.”

On the goal: “Scrappy, it was kind of trying to suck the ball over the line. But, yeah, look, I think it’s really, I think what it does highlight is it’s really difficult to play against a team like Charlton, who are very good defensively. I know they’ve conceded five in their last two games, but they’ve got the best defensive record in the league, in the Championship.

On the emphasis of winning the FA Cup: “I think it’s just a fantastic competition, and sometimes you can get ties as we had. The last round tie was against Everton, which is more evenly matched, and then you come here today, and we’re the favourites, and we understand that, we agree with that. But yeah, I just feel it’s a magical competition and just a really special place to be able to try and get to Wembley. We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

More on Zara Shaw: “Anyone who’s worked with Zara will tell you she’s an absolute coach’s dream. She’s been a physio’s dream, an S&C dream, because she literally does what she’s told to do. Works so hard, gives everything. In the small time that I’ve been working with her, she’s very coachable. Yeah, and I just think it was great today. We have young Maisie Truman as well. You’re looking at her, and I feel that she can come on and handle that game, no problem. But it was just perfect for Zara. Just really nice when those moments happen because we’ve had a lot of tough moments this season, on and off the pitch. Now we’re starting to get our rewards, and this group of players, no one deserves it more.”

Zara Shaw also spoke after the match and was in disbelief at her dream return…

On the goal: “I’m all over the place if I’m honest. I’ve done a few (interviews) now, and I’m just, yeah, I’m all over the place. But no, just absolutely buzzing. The girls put in a real shift, and it’s been a tough season for us. And I think we really want to do well in this competition, so I think it’s an important game and an important goal.”

On the road to recovery: “Yeah, really tough. I think going through it not once but twice has been even more difficult. You go through really, really hard days, and the girls pick you up, and my people back home pick me up. So yeah, they’ve been really important for me, just keeping me in it and keeping me going, really. But those moments make it all worth it. I think you always try to picture it, but you don’t know if it’s going to happen or not. But yeah, it was definitely better in real life. It’s one I’ll never forget, I think.” 

Charlton manager Karen Hills praised Shaw for her comeback winner: “Yeah, fair play to her. I’ve obviously got players in my camp that go through ACL injuries, and it’s a long, hard recovery and a long road, and the work that they do that no one notices or sees, it’s a credit to their mentality. Unfortunately, it’s part and parcel of the game. It’s not the nicest, and it’s a hard one, isn’t it? But to see players back playing, Mia Ross was back playing today, worked really hard to come back from an ACL as well. So, these players have got resources now to get them back in the best place, but the recovery and the time it takes them is so long. And the game is moving, you can see the game is moving at such a pace, and then when you come back in, you’ve got to get back up to speed. It’s also players who are pregnant as well. It’s the same sort of timings and how their bodies change as a woman, and it’s making sure that they’re in the best place possible. So, yeah, credit to her for scoring the goal.”