Aria Heil prepares to face Liverpool in historic FA Cup clash with London Bees

Tier 4 side London Bees face Barclays Women's Super League side, Liverpool FC this Sunday in a historic fourth round proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

Defender, Aria Heil shared her thoughts on the match ahead, focusing on preparations and mentality for one of the club’s biggest ever cup ties.

Preparation

Heil explained how the squad have been enjoying the experience of the FA Cup whilst also making sure they are mentally prepared to play such a huge game. They also know they're going to have to fight if they want to get a result out of the game, which they experienced in their previous FA Cup fixture against Dartford:

“Obviously were a tier 4 team playing a WSL team and it's a huge opportunity, one of the biggest games of my career so far as a women's footballer and I'm sure for other people on the team. And as well just really taking it all in and enjoying the opportunity.”

Home crowd and support

Aria stated how having their home fans behind them for the game will make a massive impact on the motivation and determination of the players:

“I think definitely having fans in the crowd makes a huge difference, like chanting and having that support around you really helps motivate, especially when the teams down or needs a little bit of a boost it definitely makes an impact.”

Importance of the game

With a tier 4 side facing a WSL side, Heil spoke about the reality of this amazing opportunity for London Bees to be up against a side with players who represent their nations on international levels. It is a great challenge for them and will provide an insight to how the levels of a tier 4 club differ to the levels of a WSL squad.

It will also allow their squad to pick out how they can improve both individually and as a team:

“Yeah, I think it's a huge game because it's against a WSL team, like the top women's league in England, and as a tier 4 team playing them, like a tier 4 team has never beaten a WSL team so the opportunity to be up against some of the best players like international players.”

Past meetings

London Bees and Liverpool last met in 2020 where the Bees faced a 3-0 defeat. Heil believes that their coaching staff have helped them become mentally and physically prepared to face whatever Liverpool are going throw their way:

“I think we have great coaching staff here at the Bees and I think they've been really preparing us very well. Obviously, there's a huge difference it's a mammoth thing were tackling like a WSL team versus us, but I think they're doing the best to get us mentally and physically prepared.”

Mindset and belief

Like every game, Heil states the girls will put in 100% knowing they want to win and be the best as individuals. But it cannot be discounted that this is a huge game for them. If they were to get a result and progress through to the next round of the competition, this would inspire them even further to want to go all the way:

“We go into every game wanting to win and being the best individually and as a team we can be but obviously there is that factor that this is a huge game. And the pressure hasn't really got on us because were the lower team i think the pressures really on them as they're the bigger team so i think we could either be a bit more free but I think every game were 100%.

Definitely as I said before a tier 4 team has never beaten a WSL team, it would be history made and I think that would really drive us. Magic in the FA Cup.”