FITBA: Glasgow City in Europe

fitba special edition

Glasgow City in Europe Glasgow City v WFC Osijek (CRO) Thursday 8th August, 19:00 CET

Glasgow City v Birkirkara FC (MLT) Saturday 10th August, 16:00 CET

FC Twente 65 (NED) v Glasgow City Tuesday 13th August, 17:00 CET

Eddie Wolecki Black: We don’t want the Dutch!

By Alan Campbell

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t was a statement which was destined to come back and bite him. “We don’t want the Dutch,” remarked Glasgow City head coach Eddie Wolecki Black ahead of the Uefa Women’s Champions League qualifying draw.

Sure enough, City, who were top seeds, drew FC Twente Enschede as well as WFC Osijek and Maltese champions Birkirkara. The Glasgow City coach wasn’t exactly doing cartwheels over Osijek either; his side struggled to beat the Croatians in last year’s qualifying section.

Although Birkirkara have played at this stage many times, they appear to be the kicking girls. City play them in the second game on August 10, sandwiched between Thursday’s opener against Osijek and what is expected to be the key to the group, the final match against hosts Twente.

“For the second year running we’ve landed a very tough group - the toughest in fact,” said Wolecki Black. Twelve months ago City returned from Finland as group winners, but did so on goal difference after drawing the final game with PK-35 Vantaa.

A similar outcome, even if City finished runners-up in the group, should be good enough to see the Scottish champions back in the last 32 for a third successive year. Nevertheless, their aim will be to win all three matches - it is, after all, what is expected of top seeds.

“I sure the Dutch would have preferred not to get us too,” Wolecki Black commented. “We have to ensure we take care of the other two teams, and then it will come down to that last game.

“I watched the DVD of our game against Osijek last year again recently and we were terrible. We needed a goal from Emma Mitchell with five minutes to go to win. The year before we had cruised through the group stage, but Osijek had won their group that year as well - people tend to forget that.

“You have to respect Birkirkara because they have won the championship in Malta many times but they are fourth seeds for a reason. Two years ago we beat Mosta, who were then the Maltese champions, 8-0.”

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© Phil McCloy

As Wolecki Black pointed out, City cruised through the group that year, scoring 17 goals without reply. But the recent European Championship in Sweden was further confirmation that the gap between the best and the rest is closing in women’s international football.

Twente had three players in the Dutch squad for the Euros, although none were playing when City assistant coach Donald Jennow watched the inaugural BeNe League champions beat Duisburg 3-1 in a friendly at the end of last month (July). Although scorelines in pre-season games should be treated with caution, the win over the highly decorated German club, winners of the Uefa Cup as recently as 2009, is cause enough to respect Twente.

“That game against Duisburg confirmed how tough it is going to be,” Wolecki Black said. “Twente are a very strong and athletic side with a lot of pace who counter-attack quickly. Donald thinks it will be like a last-16 tie for us.”

With it becoming more and more difficult to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, City go into this campaign with significant changes in personnel. “Twelve months ago we had just lost Lisa Evans to Potsdam before the qualifying group which was a huge blow to us,” pointed out Wolecki Black.

“Since then we have lost Jane Ross and Emma Mitchell as well.”

No side could afford to lose three such pacy attacking players, and adding to City’s woes is the fact that they didn’t receive a penny in compensation. All three were classified as amateurs. SGS Essen, meanwhile, received a fee when Mitchell moved to Arsenal after her short spell at the German club.

“We developed Emma for five years and got no compensation at all. Essen had her for five months and Arsenal had to pay them a four-figure sum. It’s all wrong,” Wolecki Black said with considerable justification.

The coach confirms that City had to change their style of play after losing their Scotland internationalists.

“Last year we played 4-3-3 and had real pace in wide areas, which meant we could destroy teams,” he said. “This year we’re not quite so handy in that area so we’ve had to adapt and change - although having said that Emily Thomson is no slouch and Sarah Crilly is as close to Lisa Evans as you’ll get in terms of pace.”

Thomson, who signed from Celtic in acrimonious circumstances after her old club insisted on holding on to her registration for 28 days and then made an ill-judged attempt to cup tie her, is one of Scotland’s best prospects. While in limbo between clubs the midfielder made her first international start against Iceland in Reykjavik, celebrating with an assured goal in the 3-2 win over the Euro qualifiers.

“She is a very cultured player who also has a bit of fight about her. She’s clever on the ball and has good awareness, so she should be a great asset for us,” said Wolecki Black.

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© Phil McCloy

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The Irish manager described her as the jewel in the crown

City also recently signed imposing Northern Irish central defender Julie Nelson from Everton and her arrival coincided with the return of club captain Rachel Corsie from a long term knee injury. Both were accommodated in the win over Hibs on Sunday which all but ensures yet another league title: Corsie playing in front of the back four with Nelson alongside two-goal Eilish McSorley.

City’s attacking options, which were starting to look threadbare, have been considerably boosted by a third new signing, teenage striker Denise O’Sullivan.

Her coach is a huge fan.

“She’s a top, top player, and we probably had no right to get her,” enthused Wolecki Black of the Republic of Ireland striker. “I love players who can control and move the quickly and she does that. I saw her playing against Wales when she scored twice, one of them a long-range chip. The Irish manager described her as the jewel in the crown.”

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Š Lorraine Hill

A look back at City in the Champions League

By Nathan MacKenzie

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ith Glasgow City embarking on their latest UEFA Champions League campaign from this Thursday, FITBA decided to take a look back at City’s previous performances in the Women’s footballs premier club football competition.

Although Glasgow City first competed in Europe way back in 2005, before the creation of the Champions League, we will be looking back at the last two years that City has participated in.

The 2011-12 Champions League campaign was momentous for City as they became the first Scottish club to reach the last 16. Although their last 16 clash with German heavyweights Turbine Postdam ended with a harrowing 17-0 aggregate defeat, City up to that point had achieved more than any other Scottish club in Europe.

The 2011-12 campaign started well for the Scottish champions in Subotica, Serbia against the Serbian champions Spartak Jaffa. City as an amateur side were ‘up against it’ as they faced their professional hosts in their home arena.

Spartak Jaffa however proved no match for City as they won 4-0 through doubles from Christie Murray and German striker Kat Lindner.

City followed that great performance up with another clinical victory at the Gradski Stadium in Subotica as they defeated Maltese champions, Mosta two days later on August 13th with goals from Rachel Corsie, Lisa Evans, Leanne Ross, Danica Dalziel, Emma Mitchell, Emma Wooley and a double from Scotland international Jane Ross.

Glasgow City topped the group on August 16th with a 5-0 win over Faroese champions, KI Klasvik, with goals for City from Leanne Ross, Joanne Love and Eilish McSorley and a Kat Lindner double.

Topping group six meant Glasgow City became the first team in Scottish women’s football history to progress to the knock-out rounds of the Champions League.

They would face Icelandic giants, Valur Reykjavik in the last 32 of the competition.

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The first-leg held at Petershill Park in North Glasgow was the first-time a Women’s Champions League clash had been held in Scotland. The end result, a 1-1 draw (City goal from Lisa Evans) hid the fact that City had dominated the contest throughout, as City missed several good chances to win the match. The crowd of 778 would be City’s highest home crowd of the season.

The return leg in Iceland would see City show their clinical finishing potential as they won the game 3-0, 4-1 on aggregate. An eleventh minute own-goal from Hallbera Gisladottir was followed up in the second-half by a Lisa Evans double to put the Scottish champions into the Champions League last 16 for the first-time ever - and what a test they would face.

Glasgow City were drawn against professional German opposition in the last 16, Turbine Postdam were the German League runners-up however they had played in last season’s Champions League final and contained a side full of top internationals.

Both legs would be shown live on BBC Alba; however viewers would get the opportunity to see top German opposition at their best as Postdam won the first-leg 10-0 in front of 1,750 fans at the Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion in Postdam.

Matters didn’t get any better for City in the return leg at Petershill as 557 witnessed Postdam stick a further seven goals past City to end the tie 17-0 on aggregate in favour of the Germans.

For the 2012-13 Champions League season, City would travel to Finland as the top seeds in the qualifying round.

City had to work hard to win its opening group eight clash against Croatian champions, Osijek on August 11th at the Hakunilan Stadium in Helsinki; City would win the match 3-2 with a brace from Danica Dalziel and a single from Emma Mitchell.

The game was a great test for the fixtures to come as City now knew they would have to be on top form to top the group against second seeds and hosts PK-35 Vantaa.

Their second group match against Moldovan champions Noroc Nimoreni was much more straight forward as City ran out comfortable 11-0 winners in Helsinki.

The large win meant City would only have to win or draw against the hosts in order to progress to the knock-out rounds for the second consecutive season.

City did just that as a Jane Ross goal on five minutes was enough to clinch a draw for City and to top group eight.

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Lying in wait for City in the last 32 were Danish League runners-up Fortuna Hjorring. City would go into the match as the top seeds in the un-seeded side of the draw.

The first-leg in Glasgow on September 26 was a tepid affair with both sides passing up great chances to score. City eventually lost the tie to two goals from Danish international Nadia Nadim with Jane Ross providing a 76th minute consolation for City.

City had lost both goals in the first-half hour and although they were unable to beg back more than one goal on the night, City manager Ed-Wolecki Black was quietly confident his side could overturn the one goal deficient in the second-leg in Denmark.

With the second-leg at the Hjorring Stadium in Hjorring going out live on BBC Alba, this game provided a real chance for City to show how good women’s football in Scotland is becoming to a national audience.

However City although creating plenty of chances against the professional side was unable to score the crucial away goals that would carry the Scottish champions into a second consecutive last 16 appearance. Instead the goalless stalemate meant Fortuna marched on with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

Glasgow City travelled to Enschede, Netherlands on Tuesday and will take on the Dutch champions FC Twente, Croatian champions Osijek and Maltese champions Birkikara from August 8th through to August 13th.

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Nine months out it’s a welcome relief to be back in the game

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By Rachel Corsie

ine months to the day. I finally got the all clear from the physios to make the step over that white line and into some competitive playing time again. A feeling that encompassed relief, nervousness, excitement and apprehension all in one, however I am so glad and and also fortunate to have returned to the field so quickly.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing though. With my own goal to be back in June, and no pressure on European matches at immediate threat I was happy as I progressed through my hectic rehab schedule.

With such a long time out, it felt as though weeks slipped away from me. Things were pushed back a week on an ad hoc basis and weeks rolled into months. The ease at which a mundane routine can be established, looking back it was no surprise that the pace of my progress hit a dip in mid-June. Isokinetic testing confirmed this –ultimately this is a measure of the strength of leg muscles, both left and right individually - it identified a significantly difference in muscle power, and showed that I was out-with the risk-free parameters as advised by the medical experts.

For all the effort and training over the last eight months, this seemed unsatisfactory.

I struggled initially to understand why this had happened. Probably the first point in my rehab that I did feel really down about where I was at and I tormented myself and really struggled to re-gather my focussed mindset.

This was intensified, as people knew I was close to returning and it seemed the only question I ever answered was, “are you back on the field yet?” Or something of similar thread. Of course people meant no harm. However, the test results felt like a fail and the remarks became a constant reminder of failure.

Something that naturally I found difficult to continually be reminded of.

This further led to an uncomfortable discussion over the possibility that making the qualifiers of the WCL with City (Glasgow) was ultimately in doubt. An added blow. From what had been such a positive and progressive period sidelined, all of sudden every piece of news was negative and I became pessimistic of the next few weeks and months.

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© Phil McCloy

I was eventually encouraged that I had a chance to make a big enough difference in the timeframe we were working to and was promised a re-test in four weeks.

Intense training with my new gym coach, and some very painful and intense physio sessions to keep my body coping with the workload, the four weeks worryingly elapsed in no time.

The work proved enough and I dusted off my shin guards and returned to the field for a club friendly at first in July.

As I built up my time on the pitch, I continued to partake in full training sessions and hoped that I could contribute to the clubs Champions League campaign as well as the remainder of the league and Scottish Cup run. Since the end of the first half of the season, the squad has brought in more talent, which adds to the depth the squad has and increases competition, which will hopefully drive the club even further.

With the trip abroad now upon us, it is hugely exciting for me to be back and with the squad, knowing I travel as a player eligible for selection, after playing a more motivational role so far this season with my team-mates.

The aim is certainly to top the group and we hope our experience and our squad can perform across all three games to give performances that we are both capable of and will be required to produce.

By no means do we expect this to be easy. With a narrow defeat of Croatian side WFC Osijek in 2012, the largely unknown handful that will be presented by Birkirkara FC (MAL), and the final challenge being the Dutch Champions, FC Twente, in their own back garden, the task ahead is certainly going to be tough.

The club has worked very hard over the years to ensure it enjoys European football every season and a lot of players at the club have endured both the bad times along with the triumphs. Although the club has achieved many ‘firsts’ for Scottish clubs in Europe, there is no ceiling on what can be achieved and the room for further improvement and greater targets are paramount for the club and the players.

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Expectations are high for City this season

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By Andy Muirhead

lasgow City must secure a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. There is no bones about it, if City fail to reach it they would have failed this season despite their domestic success.

Such a comment may not stand me in good sted with the fine people at Glasgow City, but they are expected to win everything domestically year in year out - as they did last season. They are chasing their seventh successive league title, so domestically with an eight point gap over second placed Hibernian Ladies - they are cantering towards another title.

Europe is the real test for Eddie Wolecki Black’s side, despite the postmatch comments week in week out in the SWPL. His team are dominant, not because the other teams are inferior but cause of City’s superiority. They have the best team in the country, they have arguably the best youth development infrastructure of a side with no ties with the mens game and their players are seasoned internationals for the most part. Beating the likes of Kilwinning, Falkirk, Buchan and co. with all respect, is expected of a team like Glasgow City.

This season, City will face another tough test in the guise of FC Twente of Holland, WFC Osijek of Croatia and Birkirkara FC of Malta. Despite City’s top seeding in the group, the Dutch will be the toughest test for City, while Osijek are no slouches as they have proven in a previous encounter with the Petershill based side. As for Birkirkara FC they will be the side that will be cannon fodder, they may be champions in their own right, but they will have nothing in the way of resistance for the other three sides in the group.

Despite the loss of Lisa Evans, Jane Ross and Emma Mitchell, City are still a formidable side in Europe - if they play their game rather than get sucked into their opponent’s game. This season,unlike others, they have started games sluggishly for one reason or another - but have then came good in the first half and finished the tie off in the second half. In Europe however, they must hit the ground running from the first minute.

Wolecki Black would have drummed this into his players, he would have also drummed into them that he expects three wins out of three. Anything less than qualification will be seen as a failure, as expectations are high this season - the last 32 is a must, the last 16 of the goal. No pressure ladies!

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