Manchester United captain Katie Zelem believes her aspect’s first recreation is all about setting requirements for the brand new season.United host Reading at Leigh Sports Village on Friday evening within the first recreation of the 2021/22 Women’s Super League marketing campaign.The Royals defeated United in the identical fixture final time period, registering the Reds’ solely house lack of that season.Midfielder Zelem, 25, informed a press convention: “I feel regardless of who we had been going to play, first recreation would’ve been about us setting our requirements.“We can go up against Reading and present everybody what we’ve labored on and set our marker down.”After simply lacking out on a Champions League spot to Arsenal final season, United are decided to make the highest three this 12 months.“I feel for us consistency is a enormous factor, we’ve had some nice outcomes against the earlier what you’d name high three (Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City), however for us it’s about sustaining our requirements regardless of who we play,” Zelem mentioned.“I feel for us it’s about ensuring it’s not simply massive video games that you just concentrate on however each single recreation you play contributes to the issue of entering into the Champions League.”Zelem mentioned that she has “nothing however constructive issues” to say about new head coach Marc Skinner who took over from Casey Stoney following her departure on the finish of final season.She mentioned: “He’s managed to create connections between the ladies, between his workers so shortly, and that’s hats off to him as a individual to be sincere, he’s a nice man and he’s bought nice technical element on the pitch.“I feel it took a few weeks for him to are available and we’d already returned to pre-season however as quickly as he got here in it was like a new lease of life, everybody’s actually having fun with taking part in below him and simply studying new issues actually, how he wants to play and his type of play.”The opening WSL fixture is ready to be a historic one, kicking off in entrance of the Sky Sports cameras in what the Football Association describes as a “game-changing” TV deal, which Zelem is worked up for.She mentioned: “I’m actually blissful to be opening the season, I feel it’s such a massive honour for myself, the ladies, the workers, that it’ll be us after such a troublesome 12 months final 12 months with Covid and stuff, we will welcome followers again into the stadium which we’re so excited for.“Also for it to be televised, we will’t wait to get going now and I’m positive it’s the identical with all the opposite ladies.”Reading completed seventh within the WSL final season and captain Natasha Harding has additionally described the sport as a “proud second” for her.“I most likely converse on behalf of all the ladies who’ve been concerned from the beginning – we deserve this,” the 32-year-old mentioned.“This is one thing we’ve labored very, very laborious for, this hasn’t simply occurred in a single day.“Lots of people are new to the sport, see the great stuff that has come over the past three or 4 years.“But this has been laborious graft, and it’s one which I undoubtedly suppose the ladies which have paved the way in which, it’s one thing they need to be actually happy with.“It’s making historical past, it’s one thing that I’m relishing, I can’t wait.”
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