Chelsea FC Women will be targeting three points when we visit Birmingham City in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League tomorrow and defender Jonna Andersson has revealed the importance of clean sheets and being clinical in front of goal.
The Blues bowed out of the Women’s FA Cup at the quarter-final stage last Sunday following a 2-1 defeat to Everton. Andersson highlighted the areas for improvement ahead of the match on Sunday.
‘We had a good first half last Sunday so we need to bring the positive things with us going into Birmingham,’ she said. ‘We need to learn from the game and we need to step up another level and go again on Sunday.
‘I think we play well, but we have to make sure we are clinical in front of goal but we also have to stay focused when we defend.
‘We need to not concede goals and we need to score more goals, that’s of course how we win games. We have good patterns, we play good football, but we just need to continue improving, be more patient and also be more clinical.’
Birmingham have had a tricky start to their campaign having lost their two opening WSL matches and they fell short of reaching the 2019/20 FA Cup final, defeated 3-0 by Everton Wednesday night.
They progressed to the semi-final by winning 4-2 on penalties (2-2 after extra-time) against Brighton & Hove Albion last Sunday and the Sweden international is anticipating a tough encounter tomorrow afternoon.
‘I expect it will be a hard game,’ Andersson admitted. ‘Of course they have played on Wednesday night but I think all the games are massive for them.
‘Teams usually step up against us and we know that. Some teams can go into the game and say there is no pressure for them, they can just go out and play because as champions we have the pressure and expectation.
‘But it’s one thing we need to learn from as well. It doesn’t matter if it’s a lower ranked team in the league, we still have to go with the mentality that it’s a tough game because we need all the points in the league if we want to be the champions again.’
Emma Hayes’ squad have three matches in quick succession as they face Arsenal in the Continental League Cup Wednesday night, followed by a league fixture against Manchester City on the Sunday.
‘It’s always easier to go into tough games with three points so of course that’s what we want,' Andersson added. ‘We will be putting 100 per cent into Sunday and we will hopefully build momentum going into the Arsenal and Man City games.
‘I enjoy have back-to-back games because if we have a good game it gives us momentum, but if we have a bad game it can be nice to have another game soon after so we don’t have much time to dwell.
‘It’s good for us as we have a big squad so It allows us to rotate. I enjoy it, it’s tough if we have it many weeks in a row but I prefer it because if we get the flow it’s a great feeling!’