Glasgow City vs Rangers Women: Leanne Ross believes a shot at silverware in Sky Sports Cup final can motivate players after first domestic defeat

  /  autty

Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross believes the chance of winning the first piece of major silverware this season will “motivate” her side to bounce back from a first domestic defeat of the campaign.

The SWPL leaders saw their lead at the top of the table cut to four points as they lost to Sunday's Sky Sports Cup final opponents, Rangers, last weekend.

However, Ross, who won this competition six times as a player, vows her side will "give everything" as they bid to win a historic domestic treble.

"Sunday was disappointing in terms of the result, but overall, the position we've put ourselves in this season, we have to be pleased with, and we have to take confidence from," the former Scotland international told Sky Sports.

"So I think we look back at that game, we reflect on it, we review what we need to be better at, but Sunday's an opportunity for us to go and win a piece of silverware.

"That in itself is motivation for us to be better and to put up a better challenge.

"As I said, we've got ourselves in a position where we're still four points clear at the top of the table with seven games to go. We are in a cup final on Sunday, we then look forward to a cup semi-final in the Scottish Cup later on next month.

"So in terms of what we want to go and achieve this season, everything's still available to us.

"And you can be rest assured that we'll give it everything we've got to make sure that we're in a great position in every game that we go into, to either fight for the trophy or to fight for the three points that are available.

"So in terms of what we want to go and achieve, it's still available for us.

"We're 100 per cent focused on that, focusing on ourselves and doing what we can to make sure that it is a successful season for us."

Ross is up against a familiar face in the opposite dugout - former international and club team-mate Leanne Crichton, who replaced Jo Potter as Rangers head coach last summer.

The pair won 12 major trophies together at Glasgow City, including this competition three times, but are now rival managers.

"It's different. We obviously chat before and after the game and still remain friends either way, regardless of the results," added the 44-year-old.

"We've had the better of Rangers this season and they've beaten us last Sunday, so nothing changes between myself and Leanne in terms of our friendship after that.

"It's a game of football after all, and during those 90 minutes, it's about being opposing managers and wanting our team to come out on top. The friendship goes to the side when the whistle goes.

"It's always nice to get your hands on a trophy, but for me it's more about the players having that opportunity.

"It's not about me, it's not about Leanne Crichton, it's not about our friendship, it's about the two teams going head-to-head and it's about which team performs best on the day to get their hands on that trophy.

"That's the focus that the players need to go in with on Sunday."

Related: Glasgow Rangers
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