The ultimate Women's League Cup final preview

8:32Sonia Bompastor:this earlier on you have won so much I was going through your your winners medals earlier on it's like a pretty cool run does any of that come into your mind now when you go into a final the fact that you've done it so many times before is there any part of it where you sort of are able to put it into context or are you very much focused just on the fact that I want to win again I want to get more medals I want to kind of like go through this period now where I'm I'm able to look back at the end and it's just like the most ridiculous sort of trophy cabinet that you've got for yourself

9:01Marc Skinner:yeah i think i'm probably quite process driven though in terms of like there's obviously steps to winning it's not just like turning up and i think obviously like in a final if you look at the euros for example like we probably didn't play the best football but a tournament if you can get through seven games winning that's all you need to do it's not like my bags about five yeah same it's not like a league campaign where you have to be consistently like you know what i mean but yeah i think for me try and focus on having a good game first and hopefully that will put the steps in place to win but I probably want to win as much now as I did at 17 I think I just love playing football and for me like winning is yeah you don't really get a better feeling than that I would say.

9:37Sonia Bompastor:You're listening to the Football Daily Podcast with Ben Haynes.

9:41Ben Haines:Sonia how are you? I'm good thank you.

9:44Sonia Bompastor:So I'm trying to remember the last time that we would have sat down to speak and I don't think I've spoken to you since your incredible run ended in the WSL of you just winning all the time. So that's why. So we thought we'd better come and check in. And now we're doing it ahead of a final. So it's a good time to do it. But I'd love to know, being the winner that you are, has anything changed over the course of the last few months? Do you still feel like the same coach? Do you still feel like the same person?

10:10Ben Haines:Yeah, I feel the same coach. I feel the same person. Nothing changed in that matter. But of course, yeah, I like better to be a winning coach. And for that reason, yeah, we'll try our best. I'll try to work as hard as possible for that to happen as many times as possible. But no, not really something changed about me. I think it's more about sometimes the outside environment. But again, I think there is nothing you can control on that. So I think for people who are working with me, around me, they know who I am. And that's the most important.

10:41Sonia Bompastor:Can you tell me a little bit about being in a final again? Since you've arrived to the club, there's not been a final that you guys haven't been in domestically. So, A, is that something that you even think about? Do you even think about in your mind that you don't ever want to be missing out on these opportunities and these finals? And B, when you come into finals, do you even think about the history or are you just looking at that specific game?

11:07Ben Haines:No, I think I would say I'm focusing on the present. And of course, as a manager, you always need to look at the future to anticipate for you to have the best preparation possible. But again, I don't think I've been reflecting too much on how many finals I've been involved in as a coach. I always make sure the team is always the most important for me. And my job is to make sure I'll bring the team to that position. I'm working in a credible club. I'm grateful to have great players with a lot of talent. And my job is to make sure I bring them to play that final.

11:40Sonia Bompastor:I must ask you about your new contract. You're going to be here for a lot longer, which is really, really exciting. can you tell me what is maybe just away from the football but what does it mean for you to know that you're going to be set in your life and that you're going to have a period of time where you go okay I know where I'm going to be I can set up home I can kind of have that level of stability

12:01Ben Haines:as well no I think it's quite important for a manager to feel the trust from the club and I think in that moment it was even more powerful and to yeah to have the backup of the club and I think I always felt that support from day one when I joined the club so I would say in football it doesn't always happen and I think it was quite a strong message coming from the club like Chelsea to say we are here to work with Sonia for the future so I think being in that position I'm really grateful to them but again I think if we want to be rational I think even if we extended the contract I know like I need to perform I need to win games and it's nice to know like I have the trust in the club but if I'm losing the next few games I think maybe the conversation will change and being a manager in such a high club with high standards it's what it's about.

12:53Sonia Bompastor:So even though that contract exists it's actually more of a if you'll forgive the terminology it's actually more of a kind of social contract with the club there's an understanding there that that contract is there but your job is around constant success.

13:09Ben Haines:Yeah, exactly. And that's what is the job about in every high club. And I think I understand that quite well. So yeah, I'll be myself really difficult on myself if we are not performing at the best. The contract is one thing, but the reality sometimes is different. And when you are in Chelsea, no matter what happens, you need to perform. And that's my job to make sure we perform as a team, I perform as a manager and we keep winning.

13:34Sonia Bompastor:Yeah, another big opportunity to win in the final then. I think we asked you a similar thing around a year ago about it being around Mother's Day, the final. It's always this kind of time of year. So I wanted to know whether there was one thing that being a mum has taught you in order to make you a better coach.

13:58Ben Haines:No, I think just like for my players to understand, I'm not only a manager. I think I'm also a human and a mom. And I think sometimes as much as it's difficult for me sometimes to make big decisions when you just decide to have a starting 11 and some players are not starting the game, they are sad. And at the human level, it hurts for me because I care about my players. They are almost like my kids. Sometimes it's difficult because you can't show them your emotions. because if you start to show too much your emotion, you'll be vulnerable. And I think when you are vulnerable, sometimes it doesn't help in this job.

14:33Ben Haines:So I think like the vulnerability, I think my players can see that as a mom, because again, as a new man, I care about them. So yeah, being a mom helps a lot in that sense. But yeah, I also understand my job. I know the responsibility and the accountability I have to have. And when I need to make big decisions, strong decisions, I always go with my values. and being someone honest and direct. I think the players will always say, maybe in that moment they disagree or don't have the same idea and opinion, and that's fine. But at the end of the day, when you look at the future, they will always say, at least Sonia was honest with us.

15:09Ben Haines:And I think it goes and links back to my values and who I am as a person as well.

15:13Sonia Bompastor:So will there be, when you make your decision for the 11 that will take to the field in the final, will you be disappointed for players that you've left out? Will you feel a level of disappointment for them? Obviously, you can't display that, but will you feel it for them?

15:30Ben Haines:Yeah, it's difficult. I know it's difficult for them. I've been myself a player. I was lucky enough not to be sitting in the bench a lot. I was close friends with some of my teammates and they were having a different statute and not playing every game or not playing every big game. And I know it hurts. So I can't deny that. But in the same time, I need to make sure I focus on the priorities and the priorities to make sure like everyone is prepared, no matter what role or what missions they will have to do in the game. I need to make sure, yeah, I focus on that priorities and yeah, the things will help the team to perform and to win.

16:06Sonia Bompastor:Well, I hope it's as smooth as it could be when you have to pick your 11 for the final. Sonia, thank you so much for joining us.

16:11Ben Haines:Thank you, Ben.

16:12Sonia Bompastor:So we've heard from the boss and Kira Walsh and we're about to hear from Alyssa Thompson. You spoke to her the other week. How do you think she's settled in so far?

16:21Emma Sanders:Really well. I think she's settled in really well. I mean, she's the type of player that excites you. And when Chelsea signed her, I think everyone was hoping she was going to hit the ground running. And I think she has. You know, she's brought a lot of pace, a lot of creativity. And yeah, she just looks like she's full of confidence on the pitch. But it was interesting meeting her off it. She was so shy. And actually, I think she was quite nervous doing quite a lot of the media. You're very intimidating. I mean, I am terrified.

16:49Sonia Bompastor:and so but no we both shouldn't laugh after that both should be very serious there but i do think it's uh she's quite softly spoken yeah definitely and it was nice seeing that side to her

17:01Emma Sanders:because she's yeah she's such a rocket on the pitch and she brings absolute fireworks but actually to see the other side of her where you know she's soft she's shy really smiley um just kind of wants to be having having a nice time but also doesn't want to be the center of attention and it's quite a nice juxtaposition to see.

17:18Sonia Bompastor:One of the things that I found really interesting watching her is I wondered how she was going to deal with the physicality of the league. But you're right, she's got so much pace and she's got so much explosive power.

17:30Emma Sanders:I think presence as well.

17:31Sonia Bompastor:Yeah, it almost doesn't matter.

17:33Emma Sanders:Yeah, no, absolutely. And I think maybe being part of that USA setup has kind of helped her because, you know, they're not going to be nice to her in training sessions. They're going to push her around and show them, you know, who's business so I think she came to Chelsea knowing full well she was just gonna have to get stuck in like can you imagine Lucy Bronze in a training session choices no chance Alyssa you

17:56Sonia Bompastor:gotta gotta get stuck in here Millie Bright right behind her yeah but imagine that your first your first couple of 50 50s in Chelsea training you'd soon be brought up to speed wouldn't you yeah

18:06Emma Sanders:absolutely and I think I think just from speaking to her you can tell that she's really enjoying it I think she's also in a little bit of awe actually of some of her teammates and the players around her and that's not to say she obviously hasn't played with world-class players but I think she's just a humble a humble young woman who appreciates that she's gone to another club that can hopefully take her to the next level.

18:27Sonia Bompastor:Well let's hear from her now ahead of what could be her first piece of domestic silverware.

18:32Keira Walsh:I'm so excited to be a part of a final I've never really at the senior level won trophies so I'm really excited to hopefully have my first trophy. Would this be your first one?

18:41Sonia Bompastor:yeah i was looking through and trying to work out whether you'd played in a major final before as a pro so this would be your first final okay what were you like as a kid playing in finals do you

18:50Keira Walsh:get nervous yeah i i i did get nervous i feel like but once i start playing like everything i feel like everything clears in my mind and i'm just like it's just a game another game um i don't really think about it but before i'm definitely like thinking about it a lot is there anything

19:08Sonia Bompastor:that you do on big match days to kind of get yourself out of your own head yeah um i listen

19:14Keira Walsh:to like chill music most of the day like i don't really get myself too hyped up to be honest like sizza chill r &b vibes and then i also just think about like what i can control and i know that like who i'm as player and what i bring to the team and if i think about that and playing just like to the best of my ability, then it will be okay.

19:34Sonia Bompastor:What are your variables or controllables that you can dominate? Is there, because I know a lot of players want to do their first touch. They want to be like, right, get a good first touch. Yeah, complete a pass. Is there things that you have in your mind that are like, I can do this, this and this. Don't worry about anything else.

19:50Keira Walsh:Yeah, I feel like usually I just think about definitely getting my first pass, just a good first pass. And then I feel like I feel really good when I'm running or like just doing like making runs in behind or like defending or just like getting like good energy on the field and I feel like I get that through running so when I'm feel like I'm going

20:12Sonia Bompastor:doing a lot then is that something with a bit of intensity basically yeah it shows that you're sort of working yeah yeah I think that I mean that's something that even if you're having a day where it's not going your way being able to bring that level of athleticism and physicality must be something that's really helpful in your game because you know one way or the other you're going to give the defender you're playing against a really hard afternoon whatever happens yeah

20:37Keira Walsh:that's definitely something that I think about and it helps me a lot just get out of my head and

20:41Sonia Bompastor:like be able to just play more freely has anyone told you about playing in finals for Chelsea have you spoken to anyone about playing in finals Chelsea not really but I feel like it's kind of

20:52Keira Walsh:unspoken like winning at Chelsea and as you kind of said like it's written in the DNA of Chelsea winning trophies and I feel like that's why people come here and that's kind of one of the reasons that why I came here is to win it's such like a huge part of their culture or our culture and yeah I feel like in any cup that we're in like being able to win and give our all and know that when you put on the Chelsea jersey you know what you have to bring and what you do and And no one has told me that, but I feel that from the team. And it's just something that's unspoken in the locker room.

21:28Sonia Bompastor:We heard from Melissa Thompson there. There is this expectation at Chelsea to almost make it through to finals, but not just make it through to finals, to win them. They've been in seven consecutive League Cup finals. They've won three of them. But we have seen these games get tighter and tighter between Chelsea and Man United. What has to go right for Chelsea on the day in order for them to come through?

21:49Emma Sanders:I think they've got to be ruthless. I think that's where United in the past have maybe fallen short, is that in terms of across the 90 minutes, they might have been able to match them with performances. But when it comes down to it, Chelsea have always taken their chances. They've always been ruthless. This season, they haven't been. So I think to get over the line against a very confident United team who themselves have become more ruthless through their Champions League campaign, I think Chelsea have to go back to the old ruthlessness and put the stamp down early that they're not a team that are beatable, which everyone thinks they are now, and basically hide those weak cracks that we've maybe seen become a little bit more visible this season.

22:31Sonia Bompastor:Yeah, it certainly was a hallmark of Chelsea's game of almost just kind of their aura or maybe their identity, that it didn't really matter how they played, they were going to be ruthless enough to get through the games. maybe just feels like that infallibility this season has disappeared just a tiny bit.

22:50Emma Sanders:Yeah, I always used to say they were the masters of winning ugly. And interestingly, I actually described Manchester United doing that the other week in the Champions League. So I do think the shoe has maybe flipped slightly in that sense. Chelsea at the moment, you feel like their confidence has been, you know, hit a little bit. They don't feel as invincible. and I think these players are so used to having that kind of mental barrier and even Ella Toon who I spoke to at Carrington the other week she was saying that there wasn't a conscious fear of Chelsea absolutely not, they don't fear anyone but she said it obviously played in the back of their minds that they'd come against this team and they consistently weren't getting the results this season I think Chelsea that have had that power over so many people for so long now look like a team that maybe aren't as invincible as they were previously.

23:44Alyssa Thompson:This is the Football Daily Podcast with Ben Haynes.

23:48Sonia Bompastor:Hello, this is Matt Jolly's Urgent Questions, your daily dose of political mayhem from the heart of Westminster.

23:54Alyssa Thompson:Order, order. I call Matt Jolly.

23:57Sonia Bompastor:I'm a supporter of flags.

23:58Alyssa Thompson:It turns out time is finite. Government doesn't want to be involved in this. I did not think the candidates were front loops. Matt Chouley's Urgent Questions Subscribe to the podcast and you'll get the best bits every day from around 5 o 'clock

24:13Marc Skinner:Listen on BBC Sounds

24:16Alyssa Thompson:You're listening to the Football Daily Podcast from 5 Live Sports

24:21Emma Sanders:Hello and welcome back I have a tough act to follow with Ben there But look, we're back, preview as promised The second part of our Women's League Cup final And I've been down to Carrington had some great conversations at Manchester United.

24:35Sonia Bompastor:I'm very jealous that you got to go and do these interviews because you've come back beaming from ear to ear saying you've got some amazing stuff. So I'm looking forward to getting into it.

24:45Emma Sanders:Yeah, it was better than your interest.

24:46Sonia Bompastor:I fully believe that. Although having said this, I do just want to flag that there has been a couple of complaints recently that you haven't taken the correct mic equipment down to shoots in London.

25:00Emma Sanders:Well, you'll hear from Mark, who did have complaints about this shortly, Mark Skinner, but Lucy Bronze did get, she got quite angry actually, didn't she? When I said that I didn't have the gold mic. However, I just want to say that Ben is not the one who brings the gold mic. It's producer Neve who brings the gold mic.

25:19Sonia Bompastor:Which is my name attached to it somehow. I didn't have anything to do. It was all producer Neve. Tell us, who are we going to hear from?

25:25Emma Sanders:So I spoke to Leah Shuler, obviously one of Manchester United's big new sign-ins, just about how she's been settling in, how she's hit the ground running and how she actually doesn't watch any football outside of football.

25:36Sonia Bompastor:OK, right, take us into who we're hearing from first.

25:39Emma Sanders:So we're going to hear from Mark Skinner first, complaining about the Mike situation. And there's also a little bit of Queen karaoke talk, so enjoy this.

25:47Alyssa Thompson:It's my debut.

25:48Emma Sanders:It's a big day.

25:49Alyssa Thompson:It's a big day for me, so I thank you for having me on the show and I look forward to the great interview I'm about to have.

25:55Emma Sanders:Well, I don't know whether anyone's told you,

25:57Alyssa Thompson:but when it's your debut you have to do like a karaoke run no problem no i'll do queen i remember once i remember once in orlando the uh ali and ash had just won the world cup right and they came back and they had a welcome home party in orlando downtown and i got stitched with um singing we are the champions on stage no idea before i walked on stage i because they were running late they made me sing it solo solo in front of everybody i'm sure there's a video somewhere but it was horrific i mean you've heard my voice it's horrific so yeah i'm um go on then i'm joking i'm joking i'm joking i won't put you on that's in the outtakes you want to save something for that we'll save

26:41Emma Sanders:something but no it's a pleasure to speak to you because you're into fourth successive domestic cup final yeah first league cup final though so that's pretty exciting it is i think look it's

26:51Alyssa Thompson:really exciting it also helps our first experience of entering a certain round of the cup um because of champions league um commitments so you know where we've been in the league phase before and and come out you kind of have the momentum of knowing that we played tottenham and obviously played arsenal two two top teams that you know we had to be up for and ready kind of bounces you through that high level expectation game but the champions league had helped us with that because you're playing basically knockout games every time. So, yeah, look, it's exciting to be here. It'll be a different experience.

27:25Alyssa Thompson:As I said, the different experience for us will be that the FA Cup is usually at the end of the year. So it's the last thing you look forward to unless you're in the Champions League, I think, which is still before. But then we've got West Ham three days later. So it's kind of like if you win it, celebrations are muted and you have to get on with the task at hand because of where we are on the table.

27:44Emma Sanders:It's an interesting point, though, because if you win it and you're going into you know WSL games, Champions League games afterwards potentially that can help you build momentum I suppose if it goes that way. I suppose the other way is you've got to quickly regroup after a final.

27:59Alyssa Thompson:Yeah yeah I think it's an important point though we are a team that I think reset if you look at our results we reset pretty quickly. I don't harp on or honing on the negative of a loss like I don't skirt over it we assess it but I don't think a space it's a healthy space to live in I think you have to think past that so our aim is to try and beat Chelsea you know we're playing the the most incredible teams in the history of English football for wins of the WSL so so we know the magnitude of it but our aim is to try and find a way to win that game and then go into West Ham and win regardless because you don't get the luxury of wanting either or you've got to go for both so that's the thing I'm learning this year more than anything with that Champions League exposure with the rotation of team it's my first experience with Manchester United of having to be like make ruthless decisions and adaptations I listened to something the other day about Elizabeth Turland should be starting but then when I don't rotate people say you should rotate and when I do rotate they say you shouldn't rotate and it's like no wonder I don't listen anymore it's just more about the focus on what's needed for the game

29:10Emma Sanders:One of the reasons why winning trophies for any team in the WSL has been so difficult is because of Chelsea They feel like they're in a vulnerable moment and I suppose for Manchester United going into a cup final against the defending champions of that cup is that an opportunity for you there to see that actually they are beatable this season they're not a team that you should fear anymore that Madrid United can beat Chelsea?

29:35Alyssa Thompson:I honestly think we don't fear Chelsea. I think we respect them because you have to. I also don't want to use this moment of vulnerability to do anything other than pretend we're playing them at their best. Prepare for their best and you can beat Chelsea. But if you don't prepare for them at their best, then you can fall well short of them because we all know they're an incredible team. Nobody's denying that. I think any women's football fan would not deny that. I think what we have to prepare for though is that when we play them in the final, that they're all firing. Because if we can get to our...

30:07Alyssa Thompson:I have the thorough belief that if we can get to our best levels in any game, I think we can beat any team. I genuinely believe that. And I go into the game believing that. And so I'm going to challenge my team to whatever form Chelsea are in, come that final, that we are ready and that we are focused on the sole performance to win that game of football. And that's where I prefer to be, rather than think about Chelsea's vulnerabilities or so on. Champions find a way, right? And whether they can't win the league this year or not, we don't know. We've still got games in place. It's cities to lose.

30:42Alyssa Thompson:But with the teams that are chasing, you've just got to solely focus on yourselves. And I think Chelsea will do that. They're not bothered about Manchester United. So we won't be worried about them. We'll try and prepare for them at their best. And that's the end of that conversation. But what I want to see from my team in this final is just absolutely empty the tank. regardless of West Ham in the week after let's empty the tank and give our fans everything because then every fan can get right behind what you do in the game win, lose or draw our sole focus will give everything to aim to win.

31:13Emma Sanders:All the best for the final mark we'll be watching and I'm sure it'll be a great game but thank you so much for joining us on the podcast, next time bring your best queen.

31:21Alyssa Thompson:Well for sure I'll make sure I bring that but surely for, do we get like a ball after a certain amount of appearances or something

31:28Emma Sanders:Lucy Bronze has a gold mic because she's been on so many. A gold mic.

31:31Alyssa Thompson:How many times has she been on?

31:32Emma Sanders:I couldn't tell you, but she's also a two-time European champion.

31:35Alyssa Thompson:Yeah, hopefully I can grow to that moment. I'm still young. You can. Well, we'll look forward to that. Well, congratulations, Lucy, on your gold mic. Hopefully I can work towards that. You're listening to the Football Daily Podcast from Five Live Sports.

31:50Emma Sanders:Well, Leah, thanks so much for joining us. Obviously, you're here in Manchester. You've been here for a few weeks now. How have you settled in?

31:56Keira Walsh:Very good to be honest. It's my first time that I go out of Germany. So to be honest, I imagined that a little bit harder. But no, I'm really happy. I think everything went very well. The team is always very welcoming, so I'm happy.

32:16Emma Sanders:A lot of people say when they come to England, it's a country that lives and breathes football. Manchester is obviously a city that loves its football too. Massive clubs. Have you felt that already just in the few weeks that you've been here?

32:29Keira Walsh:It's hard to answer this question to be honest, not so much but I think that's because I'm not so much into football. So I don't get all the news and all this so I think it's more because of me and not because of Manchester or the country.

32:46Emma Sanders:That's so funny though, that you're not into football. What is it that you do in your free time?

32:50Keira Walsh:I don't watch football. I'm on the pitch every day and I see a lot of football and of course sometimes I watch games too but I'm not really every weekend to follow one club or something. It's different. I like to spend time with others so if they watch football I watch football too. Yeah but it's more like I have nothing special but it's not that I think all the time oh there's a nice game I would like to watch.

33:20Emma Sanders:Yeah what does it mean to you to be able to say I'm a Manchester United player?

33:25Keira Walsh:I'm like a little bit proud you know to go from Munich to Manchester and that is really like the biggest club so yeah it feels great to be honest.

33:36Emma Sanders:When you come from a club like Bayern and you've obviously got so much experience with the German national team as well do you feel responsibility when you come to a club like Manchester United that you want to instantly pass on that experience and show that you can be one of the leaders in in the dressing room?

33:51Keira Walsh:Yeah, for sure. I think in this team I'm one of the oldest too. So it's not only that I played many games, I'm from age-wise one of the oldest. So of course I want to pass experience and I think maybe now in the beginning that was not the biggest goal because for me it was important the first step or the first time to go out of Germany to settle myself first. So and after, I think I can have responsibility for the team and pass experience to others.

34:28Emma Sanders:I want to talk about your strengths as a footballer because as you say, you know, when you first come in, you need the time to settle and time to grow. Feels like, you know, we're still yet to see the best Alias Schuller to come at Manchester United, which will excite a lot of fans. What is it that they can expect to see from you on a regular basis moving forward?

34:46Keira Walsh:I'm good in heading so I hope that yeah this can be a little bit more like the team knows me better I know better like when the crosses are coming and how and like this this crossing game what is I think one of my strengths and I think in the moment I'm really like to I try a little bit to play easy to to give the team a little bit confidence that I don't know they can play me and I give the ball back and we can continue the game so I think this is a little bit like what I can do in the moment and I hope I can bring many goals in the future.

35:29Emma Sanders:In terms of the League Cup final I suppose that's a great stage isn't it for someone like yourself who's not long being at the club to to sort of announce yourself to the fans and make an impression is that something

35:41Keira Walsh:that excites you I find it is always exciting I think it doesn't matter how long you are in the club or how long you play or I don't know that's that's really something special and I think it's always exciting not only now so and it's a little bit strange for me because it's in the middle of like in the middle of the second part of the season so yeah I think it's nice to have this this competition in the time like now like in March yeah so yeah I'm looking forward to the

36:15Emma Sanders:final you've obviously won a lot of trophies in your career before as well why is it so special when you win a trophy can you describe that that feeling what does it mean to you as a footballer

36:25Keira Walsh:It's funny because everyone is asking that always and I think there is no not really an answer. I mean, it's a great feeling to win something. But for me, it's more like this feeling. I mean, you say now, for example, I win a lot of trophies, but it's not me. You know, it's more like I win it with the team. And for me, it's always this team feeling. I don't feel like I win a lot of trophies because I always win it with a team. so I think it's more like this team feeling what you what you have you're proud of each other you really have this like I think a team spirit then and it's nice to achieve that together.

37:06Sonia Bompastor:Great to hear from Leah Shuler there and what a start it would be for her to pick up silverware so soon let's go from front to back and hear from Man United goalkeeper Fallon Tellis-Joyce who could be vital for her team once again.

37:17Keira Walsh:My first introduction to just being in England playing in England was was this um then called the copy Conti Cup uh that was a Liverpool game so that was the first time that the fans got to meet me and I got to meet the fans on the field at Lee and it was a really special moment for me so to continue this path you know about two and a half years later and being the final is a special moment and it's it's one of those things isn't

37:38Emma Sanders:it when you get into a domestic cup final you can kind of put the lead to to a side for a couple of days and you can focus on sort of winning a trophy and there's lots of different emotions isn't there that comes with the final. Can you talk us through how the day just might be a lot different to the normal sort of WSL match day?

37:54Keira Walsh:Yeah, I think big emphasis on just a couple of days of putting the league to the spot, because I'm sure we'll... Yeah, nice. But I think it is just a good experience for us to have that finals-worthy level of pressure as a team. Those deal-or-die moments are important for us to have, especially in-season, prepping for us for the end of the second half of the season. And yeah, I think we're well prepared for it now, especially you know the introduction to Champions League has just really got some veins of steel I guess at this point in the season so I'm excited.

38:27Emma Sanders:Yeah you when you mentioned Champions League a smile came on your face because it is a it is a big deal obviously being in that in that competition and when you're playing in these big games as a player does it bring out the best of you does it bring out more of you when you're thrown into these sort of big challenges?

38:43Keira Walsh:I think a lot of us at this level, we keep the same level of standards of every single game, whether it's a WSL game or even just these finals. I think we keep the same level of pressure on ourselves too. It's like the same as any other game day. But we do carry a lot of pride in our performances. So no matter who we're playing, we're going to give every single ounce of ourselves.

39:06Emma Sanders:So, yeah, I don't think it'll be much different on this final. So for successive domestic cup final for Manchester United, it feels like you're starting to get used to, as a team, being in these big games as well. Like you say, a lot of the squad has got experience, you know, with their countries as well. But when you're then making it a habit as a club, does it almost become a bit of an expectation, I suppose, from fans that this is the minimum, this is what Manchester United should be doing and they should be reaching cup finals?

39:36Keira Walsh:Yeah, exactly. I think that's a standard that I'm bringing up again. And it's just like, that's what we expect of ourselves as players. Like, that's what we signed a contract for here is to make history with this club since it is so new. And we believe that, you know, we can achieve just about anything in this league and, you know, abroad. So those are our aims. And especially in these transfer windows, like we're bringing in players that are, you know, have some great expertise. And, you know, I'm excited for the path that this club is heading in.

40:01Emma Sanders:We heard from Leah Shuler earlier, obviously one of those players that have come in. Can you just talk to us a little bit about her and what she's brought to the squad?

40:10Keira Walsh:Yeah, she's intense. That's great.

40:13Emma Sanders:On the pitch or off the pitch? Both.

40:15Keira Walsh:No, she's actually really lovely off the pitch too. But I think I love when we bring in new forwards to the squad, new offensive players, because now it's just like a new style of shooting against me and I can learn a new bit, even like the German style. So I think that helps me as a goalkeeper too. And I think it helps our defenders. just again raises that level for us just a bit more because she's got all these nuances about herself we need to learn her character her herself as a player and fit her into our squad

40:42Emma Sanders:when you're bringing in new players and you're adding more competition to the squad what does that do for you as an individual when you're going on the training pitch does it give you a bit more energy does it give you a push to to drive your own standards yeah I think so I think it makes

40:55Keira Walsh:you step up the plate to like now we've got more pieces to the puzzle like now I need to step up and do my part even better. Like it just pushes you to want to keep being the best version that you can be for this squad for sure.

41:05Emma Sanders:I suppose with the players that are in this squad as well, you know, you've spoken about the ambition, but is there more to come? Is there another level that this squad can go to?

41:11Keira Walsh:Oh, absolutely. I definitely think so. I really, really think so. Again, I can't stress how excited I am for this program and the players that we've already brought in and how much we can work and understand ourselves as a team even more. Like we've just brought players in, so there's so much room to grow. And I think we have so much potential as a squad that we're slowly and surely realizing.

41:31Emma Sanders:You've obviously been in England for a few seasons now. Chelsea have been so dominant in the English game. You've had some tough battles with them, obviously, in the cup finals as well. Do you feel you're closer to them than ever before right now?

41:43Keira Walsh:Yeah, I think so. And I think we see that in the standings too in the league, in performance that we've had. Even in previous seasons, we're holding them to 1-0 games, 0-0 ties. And I think now with the pieces again of the puzzle coming together, we've really been growing something that is worthy of title contention.

42:01Emma Sanders:When you're representing Manchester United in a cup final, what is it that the fans want to see? What do you want to give them on a cup final day?

42:08Keira Walsh:I think it's that raw grit that they respond to. I mean, that's Ziggy making... She loves to do a little diving chess block. You know, all those hands flying, communicating with each other, getting the press going together. And honestly, just crushing opponents from the starting whistle. I think that's what they want to see, that raw energy.

42:27Emma Sanders:you've spoken about your mum before in the past and the influence she's had on you it's going to be mother's day yeah the day of the final that's funny is she going to be there yeah no it's a

42:36Keira Walsh:different mother's day for us in the u.s yeah so that's normally in may um for us but i'll give her a little shout out every time i'm here it gives me a little heart attack of like oh my gosh i miss mother's day but no i'm still safe for like another few months or a month or two um but yeah i think uh we might save that trip for the end of the season i like to have you know a little last last game and then have some free time with them too i think it's nice she's still your biggest fan though oh by by a country mile oh yeah what do you think she's like given to you maybe passed on to you that that's helped you in your football career i think definitely our value system i think um i don't know i can't really swear on this podcast please don't yeah okay you know there's a couple family mottos that we have that um you can't have some anything you know you know and never say can't and can't's not in the intellectual dictionary so I think that's our our value system which is always being really hard workers no matter what we're doing as our careers or our jobs or our disciplines and even just the way that we are compassionate for the

43:36Emma Sanders:people around us very very strong values there I like that just finally what would be the perfect final for you a perfect final you know an early goal early goal and now let's be calm and just show

43:48Keira Walsh:who we are and everything we've built this entire season. I think that's what I love to see, some great defensive blocks and everything like that. Just a really big energy game where we see the best of everyone.

44:00Sonia Bompastor:That's all for today's episode of Football Daily. If you like what you heard, there's plenty more of it over on the Women's Football Weekly feed. Just search for us on BBC Sounds, coverage of the League Cup final. It's across the BBC on Sunday the 15th of March, the 2.15pm kickoff. And we'll have all the reaction with Ellen and Jen on the pod next week too.

44:22Alyssa Thompson:I'm Rich Hall, and this is Sports Strangest Crimes presents Confessions of a Super Bowl Streaker. When people ask me what I do, I say to them, well, by day or by night. The story of one man's mission to conquer the holy grail of streaking the Super Bowl. Mark Roberts is too lively for his body.

44:42Keira Walsh:He's just like the entertainer.

44:44Alyssa Thompson:Mark pushes the boundaries of what is socially acceptable. No chance. Texas? It's really strict. But then the moral thought was about it. The moral thought, hang on. What are you about? Sports Strangers Crimes presents Confessions of a Super Bowl Streaker. Listen on BBC Sounds. It's time your hard-earned money works harder for you. With the Wealthfront Cash account, your uninvested cash can earn up to 3.95 % APY. That's a 0.65 % boost over an already high rate for three months, just for being a new client. Plus, free instant withdrawals to eligible accounts. Start today at Wealthfront.com. 3.3 % base APY via Program Banks as of January 30, 2026.

45:27Alyssa Thompson:It is representative variable, requires no minimum, and is earned on funds swept to Program Banks. Boost up to$150 ,000. Cash account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC member FINRA SIPC, not a bank.