'Managing LFC Women is a challenge - but I'm loving every minute'
Amber Whiteley has paid tribute to her coaching staff and the Liverpool FC Women squad for helping her adapt to the role of interim manager.
Whiteley stepped up from her post as assistant following the departure of Vicky Jepson last month and is hoping to guide the Reds back to winning ways when they face Charlton Athletic in the FA Women's Championship on Sunday.
With eight league games remaining, Whiteley feels there is still a lot to play for as Liverpool aim for a strong finish to the season.
Read on for our in-depth chat with the interim boss...
On making the step up to interim manager…
There has been some challenges but I can honestly say that I've loved every minute of this role as interim. I'm just really grateful to the board for putting their trust in me and for giving me the opportunity. My immediate challenge was just to settle the squad and steady the ship. We managed to do that fairly quickly and we are moving forward in a positive direction now.
On how she has adapted from being assistant to taking charge…
It never comes about when you expect it to, but I think as an assistant manager you have always got to be ready to step up into that leadership role if needed. It's a role I've been familiar with in the past as the majority of my coaching career I've been in a head coach or a manager role. So, it's about using those past experiences to lead the team forward now. I think it's really important as a leader that you are open, honest and you hold everyone accountable – and that's certainly what I've been doing over the last few weeks.
On the challenge for the rest of the season…
I've said to the players that it's all about us pushing those above us now – so Sheffield United, Durham and Leicester City, we've got to push them as hard as we can and really put a charge together and put the pressure back on them. I think it's still important that we focus on each game one by one. The challenge we've set to the players is to take more points than what we have taken from our first 12 games, so we want to take more points from our remaining eight games.
On preparing for Sunday's trip to Charlton after not having played a competitive game for three weeks…
I think that break has given us a good opportunity to be as prepared as we can be for Charlton. We've been training on the free weekends and we've been working hard to be as prepared as we can be.
On the work being done on the training field…
Honestly, I've been so incredibly proud of the staff and the players with the way that they have stepped up despite the challenges that they've faced. The staff make my job really easy, we've got a brilliant staff team in place, and the players as well. I couldn't ask for any more from them.
On the boost of players returning from injury…
We've got pretty much a full squad for this weekend, which is great news. We've got Ashley Hodson, Jade Bailey and Becky Jane training again and that is a great boost for us.
On the signing of Ceri Holland…
Ceri has brought a great energy to the team. She is a great professional and she works really hard in every training session. We can trust her to do the right things, not just on the pitch but off it as well. She has been a welcome addition to the team and is a great person to have in the dressing room.
On what Holland can bring to the team…
Loads of energy, she is a real engine in that midfield. Technically she is very good and we expect her to bring that quality to our midfield as well as that energy.
On the challenge of facing Charlton…
First and foremost, it's important that you show respect to every opponent that you come up against as there are no easy games in this league. Charlton are facing a completely different battle and challenge to what we are facing and they will be wanting to take all three points at the weekend just as much as we will be, so we've got to be ready for that challenge.