Women's Super League Gameweek 18
Mar 27, 2022 12.30pm
3
1
HT : 1 1
FT
  • Maria Thorisdottir 14' yellowcard
  • Alessia Russo 35' goal
  • Katie Zelem 54' goal
  • Alessia Russo 84' goal
  • goal Claire Emslie 4'
  • yellowcard Gabby George 49'

"My eyes lit up" - Diane Caldwell reflects on Old Trafford news

"My eyes lit up" - Diane Caldwell reflects on Old Trafford news

Manchester United Women's centre-back Diane Caldwell has said that her "eyes lit up" when she learned she would be playing at Old Trafford only two months after arriving.

Marc Skinner's side will be playing at the Theatre of Dreams in front of fans for the very first time when Everton Ladies make the journey to Manchester for Sunday's Women's Super League clash.

The encounter will also mark just the second time in the women's team's history that they have stepped foot onto the Old Trafford turf, with the Red Devils beating West Ham United 2-0 in a behind-closed-doors match last season.

Caldwell - a lifelong Man United fan - only arrived at the club in the January transfer window, but the 33-year-old has slotted straight into Skinner's backline amid Millie Turner's absence, playing the full 90 minutes in five WSL matches so far.

Having been to Old Trafford many times as a supporter, Caldwell has insisted that she will "embrace the moment" on Sunday, but Manchester City have ramped up the pressure on their bitter rivals, who are only holding onto third place in the table courtesy of a better goal difference.

When asked by Sports Mole if she could have envisaged playing at Old Trafford so early on in her Red Devils career, Caldwell responded: "No, not really! It's one of the things that stuck out to me when I signed.

"Towards the end of that day they told me you're going to be playing in Old Trafford and my eyes just lit up – I couldn't believe it! As if signing for the best club in the world wasn't good enough, it was a really special moment and something I've really been looking forward to since I signed.

"You have to embrace these moments and enjoy them for what they are because they don't come around often. Of course at the end of the day we have a game to win and a game to focus on – our main responsibility is to get those three points. We have to focus on it like a normal game."

Caldwell's teammate Alessia Russo - who missed the behind-closed-doors win over West Ham last year due to injury - has also admitted that playing at Old Trafford is 'nothing without our fans'.

We have conducted this interview with Diane Caldwell in collaboration with Manchester United's Official Electrical Styling Partner, Remington. Check out their Manchester United Styling collection here.

POLL
Who will win Sunday's Women's Super League clash between Man Utd Women and Everton Ladies?
Manchester United Women 67%
Draw 22%
Everton Ladies 11%
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