Ian Varley
Varley: I’m confident about Sunday
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on April 30, 2010
Manager Ian Varley and his side are relaxed as they approach the League Cup final against Norwich on Sunday afternoon.
His side clinched the League title against Norwich last weekend and followed up with a win against Ebbsfleet so they are full of confidence.
Looking ahead to the final on Sunday, Ian said: “It has a sort of end of feel now, it is a good thing to be honest but everyone knows we still have jobs to do.
“We still have a game to win but everyone seems that little bit happier, the job is done and the big one is out of the way. Hopefully we can go into the game on Sunday and cap it all off nicely.
“It is still a big game everyone knows that and it is a cup final, everyone knows now that they can go and enjoy it as we are looking at the bigger picture.
“It doesn’t matter what happens Sunday we are in the Premiership come what may, although I am quite confident about Sunday.”
Ian is firmly of the belief that the pressure is off of his side heading into Sunday and on their opponents Norwich.
He added: “The pressure is on them, but obviously there will be a little bit of pressure as it is a cup final. There will be a big crowd in and I will just make them aware that you don’t get many chances at playing in a bonus final.
“We have already won the County cup which I would say is the bigger cup because it is the County one and we are in one more final now. I am really confident because we are all really relaxed and Tuesday we played really well.
“Everyone is fit and raring to go and I am sure we will do the job when it comes to it on Sunday afternoon.”
Norwich will naturally have some belief that they can win the game having pulled back a two goal deficit to get a point at the weekend.
Yet Ian is still confident that his side will be ok on the day, as they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
“I think if we went two-nil up on Sunday that would be it game over, we had it in the back of our minds on Sunday that they needed to win. Then we dropped off and they scored then people get a little bit nervous.
“I would be hopeful that we can see the job out if we go one or two-nil up on Sunday, especially if we can start as well as we did the other night. We have sort of got back to what we were doing earlier in the season.
“If we score a goal or two in the first ten minutes then we will be fine, it is good that in the last two weeks that we have done that. It settles everyone down and then we usually crack on which we have done.”
One key area will be the midfield on Sunday afternoon but the manager is confident in his midfield trio.
He said: “I think the midfield will definitely be key on Sunday and I am not going to change anything because we played them less than two weeks ago.
“I know what to expect from them they are just going to pump it, I can’t remember their midfielders touching the ball last weekend.
“We can vary our system if we need to, they have a lot of big girls who have played at this level and know what it takes. To be fair long ball can be effective if you don’t deal with it, I believe we have better players than them and the League campaign has proved that. I am confident about Sunday to be fair.”