Jo Potter: Ibrox Atmosphere Will Lift the Team

JO POTTER wants her team to put on a show at Ibrox as they prepare for a top of the table showdown tomorrow afternoon.

The Light Blues will host Glasgow City at the famous stadium as her side gets set to step foot out on the turf for the first time in the 2024/25 season.

Speaking to the media in this afternoon’s press conference to preview the game, she said: “Being at Ibrox? It is important for us; I have said previously when we played Celtic there that we are not scared to play these games there.

“I think it is important that these games are put on a showpiece and we do make sure that we are the ones that are pushing the league and games in this league.

“We want fans to come to these games, we want to be playing at the best grounds and it is important for the players.

“It is important for the players to feel it, feel the atmosphere and the big occasions and games.

“Even going down to Borehamwood at Arsenal you feel what it feels like there to play in front of 3500 or 4000 fans when it is packed to the rafters, that feels very different to 4000 fans in a big stadium.

“It is important to know the difference in the noise levels but again the feeling and the experience of playing in a big stadium.

“We have played there previously, we played well and I think it important that these games get to play there and play on the best pitches and on TV and getting good crowds in.

“That is the big thing for us, when we are trying to plan these games it is important that the men aren't playing, it is an international break and hopefully they will come down and watch.

“We were fearful when we played Celtic at Broadwood that the men were playing Lyon that night and it was a bit of a disappointment for us but we needed to for TV reasons, but the fan's turnout was brilliant.

“I think we had nearly 2000 there that night which felt like a good amount in Broadwood.

“I am just hoping that with it being at Ibrox and the men not having a game with the international break they can definitely turn up and support our girls.”

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The former Lioness will have a boost in her squad ahead of the game with the return to fitness of Kirsty Maclean, with the boss hopeful of the midfielder featuring in the games to come.

She continued: “She is one of those players that if her teammates see her there in training there is an instant lift.

“I think she is one of those if opponents see her on the pitch they are a bit like, she is tough to play against.

“She is an important part for us and how we play and dedicates rhythm and tempo of our game, I think you can see that.

“It has been great having her back in training she just fitted straight back in and there's no worries about her at all.

“It is just taking our time with her; she is still a young player.

“There will still be moments where I need to hold her back and say we have got to look after you a little bit. She might be feeling ready to go but that is for me to manage her personally.

“I have just got to manage her and hopefully we keep her fit for the rest of the season because I think she'll be important for us going into the latter part.”

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The head coach has also provided an update on the fitness of Chelsea Cornet, who has missed the majority of the season with a knee injury.

She added: “We know how important Chelsea is for us. She has only just literally got the brace off so we are waiting to see at the moment, these next couple of weeks are going to be vital for her.

“It is a short amount of time just from getting the brace off, she has got to adapt to having that off.

“She has had it on for six weeks now, which is a good amount of time. The one thing about Chelsea is she is a great healer. I think the last time when she did her ankle she was meant to be out for three months and I think she halved that time.

“There is no pressure on her at all, we need to make sure she gets it right but I won't be surprised if Chelsea knocks a few weeks off.

“That is one of those I don't want to give a date on because it could be a little bit longer or it could be shorter.

“I have not been given definite times yet because it is so early but I will definitely know in a couple of weeks’ time.”

  


  

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