Aston Villa are yet to secure a victory from their opening six Women's Super League matches, but manager Robert de Pauw remains optimistic about turning their fortunes around soon. Villa will face unbeaten Manchester United on Sunday, with the match live on Sky Sports Football from 6.30pm, kick-off at 6.45pm.
De Pauw, who took over from Carla Ward in the summer, acknowledged the intensity of the Women's Super League, stating, "In Germany, sometimes I had one or two easy games in between." Despite the challenging start, he believes in his team's potential to achieve their first win. "We're working really hard to get the win over the line. I think it's in there. I think we can do it," he told Sky Sports.
Having arrived from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen Women, de Pauw is well aware of the competition in the WSL. He noted, "The Bundesliga is also very strong, but here all 12 are strong teams. If I compare them to the Dutch league, every team here in this league would fight for the national title in Holland. I can say that without a doubt."
Villa currently sit with only two points, marking their lowest tally after six WSL fixtures. The frustration over their start is compounded by dropping a league-high eight points from winning positions. De Pauw is focused on a shift in playing style, which has led to more crosses and passes into the box, resulting in increased shots and touches in the opposition area. However, the club has yet to translate these efforts into more goals while defensively conceding at a similarly troubling rate.
De Pauw pointed out a positive aspect in their defensive performance, noting, "We also concede almost half as less corner kicks in comparison to last year. That also says something about the way we defend." He emphasised the importance of scoring, remarking, "In the end, it's about one score."
Before the season, there were aspirations for Villa to improve on their seventh-placed finish. De Pauw aims for a top-six finish this season, asserting, "Everything is still very close. I still want to improve compared to last season." He added, "We need wins to do that, so that's the aim in the short term."
To secure those wins, De Pauw believes the team must be "more relentless and ruthless in our defending." He recalled moments of lost focus during previous matches, indicating that improvement in their defensive duels is essential. "It's not only about playing good football and nice football. It's also about winning your battles on the pitch." He remains confident, stating, "We've shown that we can score goals, if you can keep a zero at the same time, then we will get the win. It's a matter of time."