Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross says the opportunity to claim the first piece of major silverware this season will help her players respond after suffering their first domestic defeat.
The SWPL leaders had their advantage at the top reduced to four points after losing to Rangers — the opponents they will face in Sunday’s Sky Sports Cup final — last weekend. Ross, who won this competition six times as a player, insisted her squad will “give everything” as they chase a historic domestic treble.
Sunday 29th March 2:30pm — Kick off 3:00pm
“Sunday was disappointing in terms of the result, but overall, the position we’ve put ourselves in this season, we have to be pleased with, and we have to take confidence from,” the former Scotland international told Sky Sports. “So I think we look back at that game, we reflect on it, we review what we need to be better at, but Sunday’s an opportunity for us to go and win a piece of silverware.
“That in itself is motivation for us to be better and to put up a better challenge.”
Ross pointed out the season is far from over. “As I said, we’ve got ourselves in a position where we’re still four points clear at the top of the table with seven games to go. We are in a cup final on Sunday, we then look forward to a cup semi-final in the Scottish Cup later on next month. So in terms of what we want to go and achieve this season, everything’s still available to us.”
She added: “And you can be rest assured that we’ll give it everything we’ve got to make sure that we’re in a great position in every game that we go into, to either fight for the trophy or to fight for the three points that are available. We’re 100 per cent focused on that, focusing on ourselves and doing what we can to make sure that it is a successful season for us.”
The Glasgow City coach also reflected on the manner of the recent defeat, when Rangers scored from a late penalty after Laura Berry was brought down in the box.
Opposite Ross in the dugout will be Leanne Crichton, a former international and ex-club team-mate who replaced Jo Potter as Rangers head coach last summer. The pair shared successful spells at Glasgow City, winning 12 major trophies together, including this cup three times, but are now rivals.
“It’s different. We obviously chat before and after the game and still remain friends either way, regardless of the results,” Ross said. “We’ve had the better of Rangers this season and they’ve beaten us last Sunday, so nothing changes between myself and Leanne in terms of our friendship after that.
“It’s a game of football after all, and during those 90 minutes, it’s about being opposing managers and wanting our team to come out on top. The friendship goes to the side when the whistle goes.”
Ross stressed the focus should be on the players and the chance to lift silverware. “It’s always nice to get your hands on a trophy, but for me it’s more about the players having that opportunity. It’s not about me, it’s not about Leanne Crichton, it’s not about our friendship, it’s about the two teams going head-to-head and it’s about which team performs best on the day to get their hands on that trophy. That’s the focus that the players need to go in with on Sunday.”