Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross believes Sunday’s cup final offers the perfect chance to respond after the team suffered their first domestic defeat of the season. The SWPL leaders saw their lead trimmed to four points following last weekend’s loss to Rangers, who will again be their opponents in the Sky Sports Cup final.
Match details: Sunday 29 March — doors 2:30pm, kick-off 3:00pm.
Ross, who lifted this particular trophy six times as a player, said winning silverware will give her squad added motivation as they pursue a rare domestic treble. She acknowledged disappointment at the recent result but urged the squad to learn from it and focus on the opportunity ahead.
She said the team will review the Rangers game, identify areas for improvement and use the final as motivation to raise standards. For Ross, the cup final is more than revenge: it is a chance to secure the first tangible prize of the campaign and build momentum.
Ross stressed the season is far from decided. Glasgow City remain four points clear at the top with seven league games remaining, and a Scottish Cup semi-final looms next month. All targets remain achievable and the coach insisted her players will give everything to stay in contention for trophies and league points.
Reflecting on the manner of the defeat, Ross noted Rangers won via a late penalty after Laura Berry was brought down in the box. She declined to let that single setback define the season, reiterating the squad will be fully focused on performing on Sunday.
Opposite Ross will be Leanne Crichton, a former Scotland team-mate and ex-Glasgow City colleague who replaced Jo Potter as Rangers head coach last summer. The two shared a decorated past at City, winning 12 major trophies together, including this cup on three occasions, but they now meet as rivals.
Ross said the friendship with Crichton remains off the pitch, but when match day arrives their loyalties are to their respective teams. She emphasised that the final is about the players and which side performs best on the day, not about the managers or past relationships.
Ultimately, Ross wants her squad to focus on the prize. Securing the cup would be a tangible reward and a statement that Glasgow City can bounce back. She promised that everyone involved will push to ensure the season ends as successfully as possible.