Brian Sorensen says Everton have to be realistic about the opponents they can challenge after a heavy 4-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Women’s Super League.
The home side – playing their fixture at the Hill Dickinson Stadium – went ahead in the first half when Honoka Hayashi timed her run perfectly to meet a free kick and drive the ball past Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
However, the Blues struggled to retain control in the second half, with an unfortunate own goal from Hikaru Kitagawa, two strikes from former Everton loanee Jess Park, and one from Melvine Malard compounding a difficult afternoon for the Toffees.
Reflecting on his side’s second-half collapse, Sorensen said: “I think the quality that they bring, we had a hard time matching when you are 70 minutes into the game and super tired because we’ve been working really hard.
“I think the girl’s did everything they could in terms of putting everything in, and we got it right for large parts of the game but at the end we also just have to admit that they are a better team, they have better individual players that we had a hard time dealing with as a whole.
“Manchester United spend four times what we are spending, so it’s always going to be an uneven battle.”
Everton have faced a tough start to the season, losing key players across the pitch while trying to integrate a large number of new summer signings.
Sorensen said: “We’re still improving players and making them learn how to play with each other and be more cohesive. I think the slow start is more that we’re not on the same wavelengths at times.”
One of the most recent changes has been Emily Ramsey stepping up between the sticks in Courtney Brosnan’s absence.
He said: “She’s a quality player which we are still building up with minutes and so on, but that’s also the case with Kelly Gago and Toni Payne, there’s a lot of those ones
“Elise Stenevik, in a perfect world, wouldn’t be playing from the start at the minute because she didn’t have a pre-season. Clare Wheeler didn’t have a pre-season so we just have to fly while we’re building the plane.”
Despite the frustrating defeat, the occasion was a historic one, with fans creating a memorable atmosphere.
Sorensen said: “It was a great experience, and those are the opportunities the new ownership are giving us and we’re really grateful.
“I think it’s a day we’ll look back on with pride, of course we’re gutted that we couldn’t maintain the performance over 90 minutes.”
Manchester United manager Mark Skinner said: “It’s a really lovely stadium, the facilities are well thought out.
“It’s quite daunting when you step out into it, really, because it like towers above you a little bit but it’s a really lovely facility and it’s nice that we could get 18,000 here.
“That’s really good for Everton to get that, you know how historic they are in women’s football.”
Everton will now return to Goodison Park against Women’s Super League 2 side Nottingham Forest in the League Cup.
