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Hello and welcome back to our Women’s Super League coverage. Tonight defending champions Chelsea take on Aston Villa in a bid to reclaim top of the table.
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Manchester City are currently three points clear at the top but tonight’s match is Chelsea’s game in hand to try and keep their hope of silverware this season alive. Over the past few weeks the Blues have lost the Conti Cup final and their Women’s FA Cup semi-final and a loss tonight would be a significant blow to their WSL bid with just four game remaining following this evening’s game.
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Aston Villa will do everything in their power to stop Chelsea’s hunt for a fifth consecutive season. Carla Ward’s team have had an underwhelming season after an impressive campaign in the 2022-23 season. They are seventh as things stand but a win tonight would close the gap on the top six.
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We will take a look at what both managers have said in the build-up shortly. But first let’s take a look at the team news before kick-off at 7pm BST.
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Have you listened to our weekly women’s football podcast? This week is focuses on the Women’s FA Cup and the fact there will be a new winner this season:
Aston Villa manager Carla Ward is wary of Chelsea this evening. “A wounded animal is a dangerous animal,” Ward said. “It’s as clear as that. Emma and her team are mentality monsters, we know that.
“They are hurting and you don’t ever want to play a team that’s hurting, especially a Chelsea team who are champions. They will want to react and I have absolutely no doubt they will react. They have world-class players, a world-class manager and they will be ready. They will want to put things right to make sure they stay on track to win the league.”
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was asked about how the team are responding after the two tough losses recently. She said she has asked her players to “show up” for the other competitions they are left competing in but she did note she thought the team were taken for granted.
“I just want the players to go out and enjoy themselves tomorrow,” Hayes said. “I want them to play in front of a fanbase that I truly hope appreciates this group of players.
“I believe this team over a number of years has delivered so much success for this club and to these fans, and sometimes I feel the players get taken for granted on that. So I want our fans to show appreciation.
“I care that they realise the level of success we have had is difficult to do all the time, to keep winning and winning and winning. I’m proud that we keep doing that even if it doesn’t always go our way. We have to pick ourselves up and go again.”
Some big news from France as Ada Hegerberg has extended her contract with Lyon until 2027. Since joining the club in 2014 she has won eight league titles and six Champions League trophies.
Vous pensiez vraiment qu'elle allait partir !? pic.twitter.com/S3Euj6j5SU
— OL Féminin (@OLfeminin) April 17, 2024
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Another big headline from the team news is that Lauren James is not included. Chelsea play Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League this weekend and so I am guessing she is being rested for that, I will let you know if there is any confirmation over her not being included tonight.
The team news is here. There is a first start for Catarina Macario for Chelsea.
Chelsea:
A first Chelsea start for @CatarinaMacario. 🙌#CFCW pic.twitter.com/9cDFp9kJYg
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 17, 2024
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Aston Villa:
Representing Aston Villa this evening. 👊 pic.twitter.com/NN2WZaCOUa
— Aston Villa Women (@AVWFCOfficial) April 17, 2024
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Preamble
Hello and welcome back to our Women’s Super League coverage. Tonight defending champions Chelsea take on Aston Villa in a bid to reclaim top of the table.
Manchester City are currently three points clear at the top but tonight’s match is Chelsea’s game in hand to try and keep their hope of silverware this season alive. Over the past few weeks the Blues have lost the Conti Cup final and their Women’s FA Cup semi-final and a loss tonight would be a significant blow to their WSL bid with just four game remaining following this evening’s game.
Aston Villa will do everything in their power to stop Chelsea’s hunt for a fifth consecutive season. Carla Ward’s team have had an underwhelming season after an impressive campaign in the 2022-23 season. They are seventh as things stand but a win tonight would close the gap on the top six.
We will take a look at what both managers have said in the build-up shortly. But first let’s take a look at the team news before kick-off at 7pm BST.