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Celebrate the New Year at Princes Park: Secure Your Tickets Now
Shae Yanez spoke to reporters ahead of our Vitality Women’s FA Cup clash with Portsmouth.
The Lionesses host Portsmouth on Sunday [8 January] in our first match since the festive break, with a fourth-round fixture versus Tottenham Hotspur on the line.
When quizzed about the importance of starting the New Year on a high, the American said:
“It’s our first game back from the break and it would be amazing to start the year off with a high because it would set the tone for the rest of the games coming up. It would also be a good challenge to play in the next round.”
When asked about the significance and appeal of cup competitions in England, Yanez replied:
“Cup fixtures really add a bit more excitement. You’re obviously always focussed on the league, that’s your main priority, but it’s still fun to challenge yourself in the FA Cup – no matter who the opponent is.”
When asked about London City’s impressive defensive record, the 25-year-old answered:
“We had a solid run in the second half of last season and we just wanted to build on that. We all take value in clean sheets – it’s not just me, although I might like it the most! It’s all credit to my defence for blocking shots, denying crosses, and putting their bodies on the line.”
When asked about the pressure that comes with sitting top of the table, Yanez commented:
“When you’re top of the table, teams will come for you. Always. I think people enjoy playing against us because it’s always a challenge – even in previous years. Building from that, we just need to take it one game at a time because every game matters. We can’t get too ahead of ourselves and Portsmouth is our first priority."
When asked about how she spent the festive break, she said:
"It was a good time to have a little bit of a mental and physical break. I’m not someone who likes to take time off, but I do think it’s beneficial – so I’ve learned in my old age [laughs]. I like to train as much as possible, so I trained a couple of times with The Keepers Institute when I was back home. That was amazing because players from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) were there too and it’s always good to hear from people with different experiences.
"I definitely prioritised time off as well, spending time with the family."