Easter Monday 17th April
SSE WOMEN’S FA CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW
Birmingham City v Chelsea (Solihull Moors FC, 2.05pm) tickets (live on Chelsea TV)
Manchester City v Liverpool (Academy Arena, 2pm) tickets (live stream, commentary on 5 live sports extra)
(S-F winners receive £5,000 prize money)
Birmingham manager Marc Skinner admits he’s extremely excited at the prospect of testing his side on the biggest stage, with a Wembley final one win away.
He told birminghamcityladiesfc.co.uk: “We’re here to take on Chelsea, look to be successful and then take on the team in the final if we get there. We’re trying to change the mentality of the club and be a big hitter so bring them on.”
“We try not to fear anybody that’s our mentality and we’re going to give everything we could possibly give. It’s about the quality moments and we always try to train to produce those quality moments.”
Although Chelsea won at Birmingham 4-0 in last season’s WSL match between the sides in the Midlands, Katie Chapman knows that will count for nothing on Easter Monday.
‘It’s going to be a tough, physical game – it always is when we go to Birmingham,’ the Chelsea skipper told chelseafc.com.
‘It’s a massive game. Off the back of last year and the disappointment we had at Wembley, we want to make another final.
‘We’ve got to concentrate on what we’re doing, our roles and our formation, and if we do everything right and stick to the game plan then I think we’ll put ourselves in a position to get a positive result.
‘It’s a great day at Wembley and everyone wants to play in an FA Cup final,’ she said.
‘For us, we want to be there again. We’ve got to keep last year’s defeat against Arsenal in our mind and make sure we’re back there again this year.
After being stung twice in the semi-finals in the past two seasons, boss Nick Cushing is hoping to make it third time lucky as Manchester City prepare to take on Liverpool.
“We’ve got a little bit of added motivation because the first year it was at Wembley we lost in the 83rd minute of the semi-final to Chelsea and last year we lost in the 103rd minute to Chelsea after going 1-0 up.
“I think that’s been our problem in the semi-finals over the last couple of years, we’ve been desperate to get to Wembley.
“We’ve been emotional and illogical and really desperate to go and play at Wembley and that’s natural, but we’re not at our best when we do that.
“I think we’ve learned two very valuable lessons and we’re in a really good place to go and be the best version of Manchester City we can.”
Liverpool boss Scott Rogers knows his side face a real challenge to seal their spot in the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final as they prepare to face Manchester City.
But rather than lament their trip to the Academy Stadium on Monday, he wants them to take inspiration for last season’s performances against the Sky Blues.
“We drew with City twice last season, home and away, so we can do it if we play well enough.”
“But we’ll respect them, research and plan and if we get it right then we’re in the Final.
“If you start looking at the final now you mess the semi-final up. You can go and watch the Final still but I don’t want to do that!”
