'On our day, we can beat anyone'
Ahead of the start of the 2013 Women's Super League, we catch up with Liverpool FC Ladies manager Matt Beard before Sunday's clash at Lincoln.
The close season has seen a remarkable transformation of the Reds' ladies team and they go into the new campaign with a totally revamped squad.
They were in unstoppable form during pre-season and have carried that into their competitive matches, reaching the semi-finals of the Women's FA Cup.
Beard's side take on Lincoln City Ladies in their opening league game on Sunday at Lincoln's first team ground, Sincil Bank (2pm BST).
While there is still a lot of hard work that lies ahead, Beard remains confident this season will see a big improvement in the ladies' fortunes...
Matt, two wins and a draw so far this season - how pleased have you been with way things have gone?
We've played well in the majority of the games we've played in. It's been different to the pre-season games when we played without any pressure. There's plenty for us still to work on but we've been pleased with the start overall.
A 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win at Sunderland last week - how much confidence did you take from that game because that isn't an easy place to go, is it?
Sunderland have dominated the winter programme since the Super League was formed so it was a tough game. To be fair we could have been two or three nil up at half-time had we taken our chances. Credit to Sunderland who pushed us all of the way and got their equaliser but I'm pleased with the way we responded. Once they equalised we got our heads down, worked hard and thoroughly deserved the win in the end.
You now have the opportunity to play at Anfield for the first time when you take on Arsenal in the semi-final on Friday, April 26. How much are you looking forward to it?
It's brilliant for us to get the chance to play at Anfield and an opportunity for supporters to come down and watch us play. It is an honour for the girls to play and an honour for me to manage a Liverpool team at Anfield. It will be a cracking game and it gives us an opportunity to do well against the best team in the league. Arsenal beat Birmingham 6-0 in their quarter-final and that tells you how good they are, but I'm confident we can give them a good game. We can beat any team on our day and at the end of the day it's a semi-final so anything can happen and with it being at Anfield what a stage that is for us to play.
What would it mean to take the team all the way to the final?
It would be a great achievement for such a new group. For me personally, I got to the final last year with Chelsea and lost on penalties, so I'd like to go one better and win it. At the end of the day we can only play who is put in front of us and if we get there that would be a fantastic achievement.
The new Super League season starts on Sunday when you take on Lincoln City Ladies at their first-team ground, Sincil Bank. How much are you looking forward to it?
It will be a tough game. They have got a new manager in Rick Passmoor. I know Rick from his Leeds days so I know they will be an organised team and they have got some good players in their side as well. It's going to be a tough start for us but in every game we play we are learning more about each other and hopefully we should have enough in our locker to start the season with three points and get off with a bang.
How important is it to get off to a good start in the league?
It's massively important. We only have 14 league games so you can't really afford to lose more than one game if you want to win the title. We have been quite fortunate with our form in the FA Cup and we are unbeaten so far in 2013, so hopefully we can take that momentum into the game, start the season off well and start putting pressure on Arsenal early because they don't play a league game until May because of their Champions League commitments. It's important we start with a win.
What are your main hopes and ambitions for the Super League this season?
I have to be realistic because it is a new group. We finished bottom of the league two years in a row and credit to the players because their attitude in training has been spot on. If we can finish in the top four then anything above that would be a bonus, and obviously we have the FA Cup and the Continental Cup as well. On our day we can beat anyone, without a shadow of a doubt, so maybe a cup competition would be a good shout for a trophy for us this year. As long as we are in touch with the likes of Arsenal and Birmingham towards the end of the year then I think that would be a good achievement.
Have you set the girls any targets?
We have spoke about certain things but haven't set ourselves any targets as yet. Once we get the first part of the season out of the way, because we tend to split the season into three, then we can sit down and start planning where we are going to finish. We just need to make sure that with every game we learn from and improve on it. It is going to take us time to gel completely.
The league is quite unique in the sense that you still play games in early June then have a little break until you resume in August. What are your thoughts on it?
This is down to the European Championships. It gives us potentially a good opportunity if there are any niggles to get players fit and, again, it gives us the opportunity to take stock on where we are after the opening games. You've also got a transfer window within that period as well so if we need to strengthen then that gives us an opportunity to do that. It's frustrating in a way, especially if you have got the momentum going forward, having that break but it's part and parcel of the way the league is so we are used to it.
Who do you see as the main title contenders for the Super League in 2013?
Arsenal. They are the team to beat and have had a settled squad for many years now. I think Bristol will surprise a few people this year even though they have lost Jess Fishlock. I still think they will be a team that will challenge. You've also got Birmingham but they have lost a couple of players. Chelsea have also signed one or two good players in the break as well. It's probably going to be the most competitive league since it was formed.
This is the start of your first full season in charge of Liverpool. It has been an incredible transformation for the ladies team so how pleased have you been with the support from the football club?
The club have been brilliant. Even when I first came here in August my job was to assess the current squad, which I did. Then we did the player recruitment and the support from the administrative staff right through to board level has been brilliant. We are pleased with the way things are progressing and I can't fault the support.
A big factor you have this season is competition for places. Was that something which was missing when you first joined the club?
Definitely. In the games we had at the back end of last year, the team wasn't physically fit enough. We pushed one or two teams around us all the way but the top teams were on a level apart. We lost 5-2 against Birmingham and 4-1 to Arsenal and we lacked that quality, especially in front of goal. Now we've got a good balance of youth and experience. We've got some world-class players and, as I said before, on our day this team can beat anyone. We've got to keep our feet on the ground and it will take time to get that consistency and understanding but we are progressing nicely.
On a personal level, what's it like to be in charge of a team from Liverpool FC?
It's a privilege. This is a fantastic football club and I've been lucky enough to sit down with our manager Brendan Rodgers and be part of what they are doing and listen and learn from him. Living in the city it has been great just to see what the club and what the football means to the fans. In London where I'm from you don't see that and it's a privilege to be a part of that. Me and the family have settled in the area and we like living here. I love working for the club and hopefully it will be longer than the two years that I've got and we can be successful.