Casey Stoney needs her staff to perform with no fear when they take on Manchester City at the first ever Manchester derby in top-flight women’s football.
Stoney’s side have been handed a brief but daunting trip to City on Saturday as they open their FA Women’s Super League campaign after going up last season.
Nick Cushing’s City will be the favourites to come out of this game with three things based on Stoney, who expects Manchester United can take off the shackles and perform together with freedom.
“There’ll be some nerves, it’s ordinary,” she told Sky Sports News.
“It’s an opening match of the WSL, they wish to perform, they need to perform well, we want to perform well as a team.
“But I see it as an opportunity to express themselvesgo out on the grass, also make mistakes because that is the way you learn.
“Clearly they do not wish to make mistakes on the greatest point but we would like to motivate them to go on the market and have no fear and have a go.
“We won’t be expected to win this particular match, we shouldn’t be expected to win this match. We’ve just been promoted, Manchester City are a wonderful team, they have been winning decorations for the previous four decades.
“The expectation and pressure should be on the opposition on Saturday.”
This weekend’s Manchester derby takes place in the Etihad Stadium, with Tottenham’s trip to Chelsea a day also being played in the home arena of their men’s group, Stamford Bridge.
City and England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley misses the game because of her recovery from a hamstring injury but admits the derby that is season-opening claims for a distinctive event.
She said:”It’s a excellent opportunity and a privilege to have this chance and the two clubs need to take that opportunity by the scruff of the neck and show people in England and across the world how much the women’s match has come but also how much it could go.
“It would be good to fill it I want people to develop an experience they love [where they believe ] they play very great soccer, really entertaining, it is an environment that is great to be part of.
“There is a social aspect to it. We are inclusive, not attempting to turn away, so if we can break a attendance record I would be so, so proud. It is likely to be a yummy fixture and I am really looking forward to watching it.”
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