“I am very proud of Clarissa, it’s totally deserved,” Fran Alonso

Fran Alonso spoke to Celtic TV’s Colette Carr to preview this weekend’s SWPL1 match against Motherwell at K-Park. And with Ange Postecoglou’s troops playing up at Tannadice on Sunday with a 12noon kick-off, there’s plenty of time for supporters watching that match on Sky Sports to get themselves over to East Kilbride for the Motherwell v Celtic FC Women match that kicks off at 4pm.

With no pre-match media conference for the women’s game due to the media staff at Celtic having the Champions League draw to work on yesterday and today, Colette fills the gap to keep the Celtic support updated on the manager’s thoughts ahead of the crucial match on Sunday afternoon.

All three top sides in the SWPL1 know that they can’t be the first to blink against the rest of the league and while Glasgow City survived a scare against Motherwell last week – a 97th minute Tony Ralston moment was needed to secure the three points – Celtic will undoubtedly have heeded that warning and Fran Alonso will be looking to get the match won as soon as possible.

On Wednesday evening the two Champions League participants from the SWPL1 played their game in hand over Celtic and while Glasgow City put seven passed newly promoted Dundee United, theRangers struggled at home to Hearts but got there in the end with two scappy goals. Hearts certainly gave them a scare missing some unbelievable chances in the first half including an effort that come off the bar, then hit the post before coming out for an open goa tap in that was missed! Watch for yourselves…

Fran Alonso will sense similar danger from Motherwell, who like Hearts have improved considerably since last season. So how have things been at Celtic this week with the women’s side?

“It’s been very good,” Fran said. “On Wednesday before training we had a chat about what we could do better, reflecting on the previous game (the 4-0 win over Spartans on Sunday) and the reaction at training was excellent. We had a very good training session and now we have to prepare another session that will prepare us for the game. We are looking forward to the weekend,” the Celtic boss said.

On improving Motherwell after the Lanarkshire side strengthened in the summer the Celtic FC Women manager reckons that Sunday’s opponents have taken the league by surprise so far this season. “It’s true that they have surprised everyone. Motherwell have got points that nobody expected them to at this stage after three games and they’re a very difficult team to beat.

“They lost against Glasgow City with the last kick of the game and could have got a point there, so we definitely won’t underestimate them. Despite always having great games against them, they are a different team this year. They are well-organised so it will be very tough for us.”

On the strong start to the season with three wins 15 goals scored and none conceded, there is no chance that Celtic will be resting on their laurels anytime soon. “We have three wins but that’s the past and we are only as good as our last game.

“We only focus on Motherwell so what we’ve done in the past is completely irrelevant and we need try and get the three points against Motherwell, and if we can score as many as possible and try and keep a clean sheet, which is very important for us.

“But the quality of the opponent will make these goals very, very hard and we are totally focussed on trying to play our football and getting three points,” Alonso stated.

The Celtic manager continued: “What we have done in the past three games in good for morale and we are confident in what we are doing but it’s a new game against a brand new team and we are 100% focused on that.”

Sunday sees Celtic return to K-Park, where the Hoops played their home games the season before last and where Fran Alonso’s own Celtic journey started. He’s got plenty of happy memories of the East Kilbride ground and many friends there too.

 

“It’s a ground I really like and I have great memories there with a very good crowd, so I am looking forward to it. Our first game there was against Glasgow City and we got the winner in the final seconds in terrible weather so there a lot of good memories with a very good crowd so I am looking forward to going back.

“I know that they’ve got a brand-new surface which could help us play our brand of football so I’m looking forward to going back there and seeing people who look after the ground, who really looked after us when we were there,” Fran said.

And the Celtic manager had a special word for Clarissa Larisey who as we reported on The Celtic Star earlier in the week, has been called up to the Canada squad for the trip to Australia next month where the Olympic Gold Medalists and one of the top women’s teams in world football, will play a double header against the Matildas.

READ THIS…“I’m honoured, a dream come true!” Clarissa Larisey delighted by Canada call-up

For a Celtic player to get a call-up for such a top side is a big deal, as Fran Alonso recognises. And of course the skipper Kelly Clark retains her place in the Scotland squad while Olivia Chance is as usual named in the New Zealand squad for the September International. And new arrival Claire O’Riordan is as usual in the Ireland squad.

“I’m very proud, especially for the player who was called up for the first time, so a special mention for Clarissa with Canada, the Olympic Champions and one of the best teams in the World. It’s a great reward for the hard work she is doing with us.

“The only disappointment is that I’ve got two or three players who should be in the national team squads but haven’t been selected but that’s up to the managers. What they have to do is carry on working and I am sure that in the future more players will be in their national team.

“But I am very proud of Clarissa, it’s totally deserved,” Fran said.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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