ReactionAmber Whiteley: We gave it absolutely everything
Amber Whiteley expressed her pride in the players after Liverpool FC Women narrowly missed out on a place at Wembley.
The Reds were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at Kingsmeadow on Saturday afternoon in their Adobe Women’s FA Cup semi-final.
Olivia Smith’s clinical finish had put Whiteley’s team ahead during a first half in which they had further chances but Erin Cuthbert equalised for Chelsea in added time.
Taylor Hinds’ cross struck the woodwork in the last minute of the regulation 90 and the home side then won the tie at the other end through Aggie Beever-Jones’ header.
Interim head coach Whiteley gave her immediate post-match assessment to the BBC – read her reaction below.
On the emotions in the squad after full-time…
We spoke before the game about having no regret and giving absolutely everything out there today. We absolutely did that, I’m so proud of them. We didn’t get the result we wanted but I’m so proud of them today. They gave absolutely everything for each other. They went to war for each other today.
On Hinds hitting the crossbar in the last minute, before Chelsea’s winner…
There was a bit of momentum shift, I think, when we changed shape. And I was up, I thought it had gone in. Fine margins in games like this. First half, we went toe-to-toe with them and caused them real problems. We needed another one of those opportunities to go in in the first half. But so proud of the performance today, they were brilliant.
On whether she feels Liverpool were ‘unlucky’ on the day…
I think you make your own luck. The game plan worked, we executed it well and it’s fine margins against world-class sides like Chelsea. There’s so much we can take away from this game today, so many positives, and it’s just the start for this team.
On what she says to the players now for the remainder of the season…
It’s taking all the positives from the game. Like I said, we’ve gone toe-to-toe with a top-class side. And that’s the standard – if they can do that consistently they’ll be back in this competition at this stage again next season and in the seasons after that. So, that’s the bar. We’ve got to keep going now.