Casey Stoney needs her team when they take on Manchester City at the very first Manchester derby in top-flight women’s soccer, to play with no anxiety.
Stoney’s side have been handed a daunting although brief visit to City on Saturday after going up last year because they open their FA Women’s Super League campaign.
Nick Cushing’s City are the overwhelming favourites to emerge from the match with three points based on Stoney, who hopes Manchester United and liberty will take off the shackles and perform.
“There will be some nerves, it’s natural,” she told Sky Sports News.
“It’s an opening match of the WSL, they would like to work, they would like to do well, we would like to perform well as a golf team.
“However, I view it as an opportunity to express themselvesgo outside onto the grass, also make mistakes because that is how you learn.
“Clearly they do not wish to make mistakes about the biggest point but we would like to motivate them to go on the market and have no fear and have a try.
“We will not be expected to win this particular match, we shouldn’t be expected to win that match. We have just been encouraged, Manchester City are a team, they have been winning trophies for the previous four decades.
“The pressure and expectation ought to be on the opposition on Saturday.”
This weekend’s Manchester derby takes place in the Etihad Stadium, with Tottenham’s visit to Chelsea a day later being played at the home arena of the men’s team, Stamford Bridge.
City and England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley overlooks the sport due to her recovery from a hamstring injury but admits the derby that is season-opening promises for a distinctive event.
She explained:”it is a excellent opportunity and a chance to have this chance and both clubs need to take that chance by the scruff of their neck really and show people in England and across the globe how much the women’s sport has come also how much it can go.
“It’d be great to fill it but I need people to develop an experience they adore [where they think] they play fantastic football, very entertaining, it is an environment that’s good to be part of.
“There is a social element to it. We’re inclusive, not hoping to turn off, so if we can break an attendance record, I’d be so pleased. It is likely to be a tasty fixture and I am actually looking forward to seeing it”
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