Evans and Scots baffled by Ukraine boss Cortes
LISA EVANS, who is in line to win her 89th Scotland cap against Ukraine at Hampden on Friday night, admits she and her team-mates are finding it hard to understand why Pedro Martinez Losa’s opposite number will be Lluis Cortes.
It will be a Spanish battle of wits in the technical area and also Cortes’ first game in charge of Group B third seeds Ukraine. He was appointed this month, having been out of the game since guiding Barcelona to their first Champions League win at the expense of Chelsea in May.
That achievement has put him on the shortlist for the FIFA women’s coach of the year award and was part of a treble which included the league and Spanish Cup. Yet, far from walking into another top job he has opted for a middle-ranking international side.
“We can’t really get our heads round it,” Evans said. “But he obviously thinks there’s potential there to do something big.”
The 29-year-old says she is enjoying her football again after a long spell disrupted by successive Achilles tendon injuries on either heel. She scored her first goal for loan club West Ham 10 days ago and also played a prominent part in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Spurs.
The temporary move from Arsenal was unexpected, but she says it has worked out well.
“I didn’t expect to come in the first day of pre-season and be told the intentions were to put me out on loan,” she said. “It caught me off guard.
“It wasn’t about going to West Ham. As soon as I got there I got an amazing reception and I knew it was somewhere I could enjoy my football again.
“I feel that respect and value from the club, and it’s so nice to be in an environment where I think we can all get the best out of each other.”