SAWIUK REFLECTS ON 2023 & LOOKS AHEAD TO NEW YEAR

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Women's manager has high aims for 2024

2023-12-24T09:00:00.000Z

SAWIUK REFLECTS ON 2023 & LOOKS AHEAD TO NEW YEAR

Women's manager has high aims for 2024

2023-12-24T09:00:00.000Z

Women's manager has high aims for 2024

Burnley FC Women played their last game of the year earlier this month, in a dominant 11-0 win over Coundon Court Ladies. The progression into the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup and an unbeaten league run has left Manager Rebecca Sawiuk, who arrived at the club in July 2023, feeling happy and motivated for the year ahead.

Reflecting on 2023, she said: “As a team we debriefed the first half of the season together this week and there are many positives and lots of moments that bring a smile to our faces.

“We have scored over 40 goals in all competitions, had more than 10 players contributing goals and both goalkeepers Lucy and Kirstie have kept clean sheets.

“We have reviewed the targets we set, discussed what’s gone well and we have identified areas of development. What’s important to me at Burnley is everyone has a voice, we are honest with where we are and keep demanding more from each other, especially our behaviours, standards and togetherness. We said we would like more clean sheets in the second half of the season and that’s what we have committed to as a team. We take a lot of pride in the first half of the season, however as with any game of football nothing has ever been won at half-time and we will come back for the second half of the season where we hope to be in the title race come the final game.”

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The new season saw an influx of new signings and Sawiuk is pleased to see how the group have gelled.

“I’m really pleased with how every member of staff and all the players have settled into the group. We have signed around 12 new players, moved some on, loaned out others. It’s been a lot of change to oversee at the football club, but both on and off pitch every month we add, build and grow and that’s the exciting piece of this project, we just keep getting better.

“Our squad depth is really starting to come together, the players are building those close connections. We have a lot of big personalities in the group, good people who care a lot about Burnley, this club and want to contribute to its success. We have a clear identity, everybody has bought into our way, everyone has a voice, and I am looking forward to seeing everyone grow together in the new year. We have a hardworking and united team here and what I can guarantee is we will do our best every week to achieve our goals.”

The challenge in the new year is continuing the good league form and progressing in the Women’s FA Cup. How does Sawiuk aim to balance the two?

"For us we are excited. In the league we have a huge two months of football, we would love the fans to come and get behind us at our home fixtures, we need you. Every single game will matter! That’s our main focus the league.

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“Alongside that, we have pulled Birmingham City Women out of the hat for the fourth round of the FA Cup, a team from the league above who play their football in the Championship. We are preparing now for these games in the new year, we study our opponents for hours, do our research, watch film, identify key players etc the same way we do every week. We try and look for every 1% we can find to win. I think everyone will be looking forward to the FA Cup game, it’s a chance for us to measure how far we have come and where we stand up against an established team like Birmingham, our vision here is to play in the Championship, and this will be a great learning moment for us.”

The Clarets manager is all too aware of the positives a good cup run can bring.

“We have had a good cup run in the FA Cup so far, we have also rotated our squad across those games which has meant everyone has had an opportunity to play their part in the journey together. We have scored 22 goals in three games in the FA Cup which takes some doing. Against Coundon, the opponent had one box entry and four entries into our defending half. We were ruthless, we want to take that mentality into every game.

“In January we will be looking to put in a good, hardworking team performance against Birmingham, something Burnley fans can be proud of.”

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The draw will give the Clarets the opportunity to face higher league opposition, a great test for an ambitious side aiming to reach the Women’s Championship themselves.

“We are down to the last 32 teams in the country, it’s an impressive run. Yes, they play in the league above, we will be respectful and diligent in our preparation. Come match day we know we can compete; we have talent and depth in our group and that fills us with confidence we can beat anyone on our day. We have experienced players in our group that have played in the championship, played or coached against Birmingham before and played in this round or further before, so that combined experience will hold us in good stead going into this game. We have players who can stop goals and players who can score or create, we have players who would cause any team problems and I’m really looking forward to the game already!”

Burnley FC Women will host Birmingham City in the Adobe FA Cup fourth round on Sunday 14th January (2pm) at the County Ground, Leyland. Admission is £5 for adults, £2 for concessions.