Casey Stoney wants her team when they take on Manchester City in the first derby at women’s football to play with no fear.
Stoney’s negative have been handed a brief but daunting visit to City on Saturday after going up last season as winners as they open up their FA Women’s Super League campaign.
The City of nick Cushing are the overwhelming favourites to emerge from this game with three factors based on Stoney, who hopes Manchester United will take the shackles off and perform freedom.
“There’ll be some nerves, it’s natural,” she told Sky Sports News.
“It’s an opening game of the WSL, they want to work, they would like to perform well, we would like to perform well as a golf team.
“However, I find it as an opportunity to express themselvesgo outside onto the grass, and also make mistakes because that is the way you learn.
“Obviously they don’t want to make mistakes on the greatest point but we want to encourage 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 this game. We have only been promoted, Manchester City are a fantastic team, they have been winning decorations for the last four years.
“The expectation and pressure ought to be on the resistance on Saturday.”
Together using Tottenham’s trip to Chelsea a day also being played at the home arena of the men’s group this weekend’s Manchester derby takes place at the Etihad Stadium.
City and England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley misses the match because of her recovery from a hamstring injury but admits the season-opening derby promises to be a distinctive event.
She explained:”it is a great opportunity and a chance to get this chance and clubs will need to take that opportunity by the scruff of the neck actually and show folks in England and across the globe how much the women’s game has come but also how far it can go.
“It would be great to fill it but I want people to come away with an experience they adore [where they think] they play great football, very entertaining, it is an environment that’s good to be part of.
“There’s a social aspect to it. We are inclusive, not trying to turn away, so if we could break an attendance record I’d be so pleased. It’s going to be a yummy fixture and I am actually looking forward to watching it.”
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