Fran Alonso spoke to The Celtic Star and The Cynic a few days ago ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s Women’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts at the Falkirk stadium which frustratingly kicks-off at exactly the same time as Celtic take on theRangers in the Scottish Premiership at Celtic Park.
We asked Fran about this cray scheduling and for his thoughts on The Celtic Star’s suggestion to play these games on the May Day Bank Holiday Monday going forward, which would give the women’s semi-finals the full attention, could attract a bigger crowd and would probably interest broadcasters more.
Even Fran was frustrated at the the scheduling and the fact that he’s now going to miss the Glasgow Derby at Paradise!
We also asked Fran about his recruitment this season Fran and got his thoughts on how well that Ange has done with his signings. Fran also talks to us about two of his players – Jacynta and Charlie Wellings – making the PFA Scotland shortlist for the Player of the Year.
📹 In the run up to Sunday's 𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶-𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 manager Fran Alonso said he's fortunate to have an in-form squad!
🏆 The #Ghirls take on 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 at Falkirk Stadium this Sunday (12pm KO)#COYGIG 🍀 #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/bWiHngZbjt
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) April 29, 2022
“Everyone is switched on for the cup semi-final, everyone is trying to earn a spot, they don’t want to miss the occasion and they are pushing themselves as much as they can,” Fran said.
‘It’s making things difficult for us for team selection, but I’m very pleased to see the team training with that quality, so I’m very happy with that.’
“We will pick the team that we think gives us the better guarantee of trying to win the game based on the quality of training, their effort in training and previous performances. And, of course, based on the weaknesses and strengths of the opposition we are going to face.
“In this case it’s a very difficult team, it’s a cup game, and we all know what can happen in cup games. Anything can happen, we have seen teams from positions below knock out the team above them.
“So we are well aware of that, and we definitely won’t underestimate the opponent because the difference in the position of both teams in the table doesn’t count on Sunday. We take the game as cup final itself and we don’t want to underestimate, we want to play our football, we want to impose it, and we will go with the best team that we possibly can.
“Hearts are a brave team, they are confident enough despite how young the squad is. They are confident enough to play out from the back. They do it quite well and they are quite aggressive in pressing. They could play a back three or back four, so we are preparing for both scenarios.”
Both Charlie Wellings and Jacynta are in the running for Women’s Player of the Year, while Jacynta is also nominated in the Young Player section and Wellings is joined by Chloe Craig and Caitlin Hayes in the Team of the Year.
🟢⚪️ Fran Alonso speaking about Jacynta and Wellings' nominations for @PFAScotland POTY!
🎙️ "I was delighted to see two of our players – two that we recruited – that have done so well and are being recognised by other football people."#COYGIG 🍀 @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/vyWw4hGTx1
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) April 29, 2022
Fran Alonso told The Celtic Star: “To have two representatives is amazing, and in the Team of the Year we have three, and overall you see a few of the men in there as well, it’s a fantastic achievement for the football club.
“I was personally delighted to see two of the girls that we have recruited. They have done so well to have been recognised like that by football people, so I’m very, very pleased and very proud of them and they totally deserve it.’
Jacynta and Wellings apart, like the men’s team under Ange Postecoglou, there are plenty of new faces in the team as Alonso and his coaches have also been on a rebuilding process this season.
Fran Alonso told The Celtic Star: “It wasn’t easy, we all know they players that we lost. So many players from the starting XI, players that statistically gave us a lot of goals and a lot of assists, and were very difficult to replace. I think our recruitment was very good, but it was hard. For us coaches it was a lot of hours of reviewing footage and trying to find not only the right player but the right personality to fit into the team.
“For me I’m very pleased that so far it has been a good season, it could be an amazing season depending on how we do in the next month of competition. The players have settled quite quickly and they are delivering quite quickly in winning the first trophy for 11 years.”
COYGIG
Watch Fran Alonso speaking to The Celtic Star and Cynic Women below….
📹 Press Conference: Fran Alonso previews Sunday's Scottish Women's Cup semi-final against Hearts!
🗣️ "The difference in the position of both teams in the table doesn’t count on Sunday."#COYGIG 🍀 @CelticFC https://t.co/2zlJiGPMm4
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) April 28, 2022
🍀🎟️ Come and support @CelticFCWomen as they fight for another spot in an another cup final this season.
Tickets are still available to watch the Ghirls take on Hearts in the semi-final of the Scottish Women’s Cup at Falkirk Stadium this Sunday (May 1), 12pm kick-off ⤵️
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 29, 2022
