We'll Keep Fighting, Says McManus
- LCFC Women currently sit 12th in Barclays Women’s Super League
- The Foxes next match is a Continental Tyres League Cup game against Sunderland
- The match will be played at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground on 11 January
- The defender believes the squad will come back stronger in the New Year
Eleven games into the season, it’s fair to say that Leicester have some ground to make up during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.
Without a win in the Barclays Women’s Super League, City sit at the foot of the standings, while three points from two games in the Continental Tyres League Cup means they hold a steady third place in Group B.
Over the last couple of weeks, the Foxes have seen three matches (against Sunderland, Liverpool and Manchester City) all fall victim to postponements, due to freezing weather conditions.
Unfortunately for City, this means that they head into the Christmas break with an 8-0 loss against current champions Chelsea, still looming in their mind.
However, manager Willie Kirk has only had the reigns for three games, and with improved performances on display, such as the narrow defeat to West Ham United, the squad are feeling as confident as ever that they can turn fortunes around.
McManus states there is still work to be done: “We still believe that the relegation fight is far from over. Yes, we’re sat at the bottom on zero points in the league but it’s still doable.
“I’m sure there is going to be some hard work over the Christmas period and hopefully that will make us a little bit stronger as a group when we come back.
“I’ve struggled, and I’m not going to shy away from it. It has been frustrating but now the training sessions have upped, so hopefully gamedays will start to improve the same way.
“It is tough, of course it is. But Willie [Kirk] has come in, given us new things to do and a different style of football that we’re enjoying. Now we’re excited to get back on the pitch so that we can try and implement what Willie has been teaching us in training.”
With a relatively young squad, the defender explains how now is the time to stay focused and trust the process. The Foxes must enjoy some time off with family, but McManus revealed that the manager has outlined an important training regime during this period.
“I think they [the younger players] will be learning that you’ve got to keep your head high,” she continued. “We have had some tough results, but you must turn up to training and keep fighting for what you really want.
“It has been mentally tough, as well as physically tough, but we’ll get there and hopefully we’ll pick up some points in the New Year and that would give us the momentum to help us start believing a little bit more.
“Willie [Kirk] has got us in between Christmas and New Year, because we need to gel as a group a little bit more. We’ve got some work to do on the grass as well and we all know that as a group.
“But we have got a bit of a break and we should all enjoy that with our families because it’s Christmas and everyone loves this time of year. Spending time with family and friends might be the help we need.”