Aston Villa boss Robert de Pauw has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s Women’s Super League game against Leicester (kick-off 14:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Rachel Corsie and Jill Baijings remain sidelined, while Anna Leat and Georgia Mullett are closing in on a return to team training.
De Pauw said it is “disappointing” that an appeal to reduce Paula Tomas’ impending three-match ban was rejected.
On Tomas’ red card against Brighton, he added: “It’s a little bit unreasonable. You get a penalty which is mostly a goal, you lose the game in that moment because you are one player down.”
Despite the defeat, De Pauw thought his team “fought like lions”.
On facing Leicester, he said “it will be two teams battling for a first win”.
“There’s quality in their squad so we have to be ready,” De Pauw added.
The Villa boss said “everybody is still hungry to push” despite a tough start to the season.
