Hibernian Ladies Head Coach Chris Roberts is expecting a tough game against Celtic on Sunday’s SWPL Cup Final at Broadwood, which kicks off at 4:10pm.
Hibs beat East Fife, Rangers and Glasgow City en route to the final in their bid to retain the trophy and Roberts knows that his players will have to be at their best.
2016 was a successful year for club as they completed a domestic double, winning both cup competitions in gripping finals against Glasgow City.
Roberts told the club website: “We feel really good going into the final. It’s a big game for us. Of course we won the trophy last year so we’d love to retain it.
“Celtic are a top team and we’ve faced them twice already, both games have been tight and both were victories for Hibs which is great, but it will be a really tough game and definitely a big one.
“It will be a physical game as Celtic are a strong team and the previous matches have taken a lot out of our players. We’ll need to match them physically and then get on the ball and pass it about because we are technically a very good side.
“Because they are a very good side we’ll have to be at our best. We have been in the previous matches and got the goals in the second half of both games to win them, so we’ll definitely need to be at our best.
“It would be a great achievement to retain the trophy. Last year when we won the league cup, it was about continuing to win things and being serial winners.
“To then go and win the Scottish Cup later in the year, we started that journey and we want to be a team and club that continues to win things and bring trophies back to Easter Road.
“It’s huge for us to try and retain the trophy, to make sure that we continue on that level of success. Of course, being the 21st of May it would be great to have a trophy coming back to Easter Road on that famous day!”
Supporters heading to Broadwood will be able to pay at the gate, with a cost of £5 for adults, £2 for concessions and free admission for children under 16.
Photo by John Preece
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
