OTHER GREAT FOOTBALL TITLES
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of her attitude ment. s always given ing on the pitch well as being a top player who’s highly respected over here, she’s a great ambassador for the club.” Fishlock is back in Seattle after playing for Wales in Tuesday’s 3-0 Euro 17 qualification defeat by Austria.
As the 28-year-old Wales stalwart finishes her third Reign campaign on Thursday, former Notts County central defender Corsie, 26, will be closing out her debut season in the American league.
“Rachel’s done really well for us and exceeded expectations,” said Harvey. “She took a risk in coming here because I told her our central defensive partnership was the best in the league last season and that she had no guarantees of playing.
“But she stepped up to the plate from day one. “She’s now fitter, stronger, a better footballer and a regular in the back line. Like Kim and Jess, she’ll have an important part to play against Kansas.”
When the two teams met in last year’s Championship match, Kansas were surprise 2-1 winners after Seattle had reigned supreme in the regular season.
Harvey recalled: “We won the league by 13 points, so no-one was even close to us.
“That would make you champions in England, but over here it just puts you in a position to go into the Championship play-offs.
Devastated
“We’d been totally dominant, so when we lost the Championship match it was a weird feeling – the worst feeling I’ve ever had at the end of a game.
“Kansas had spoiled our party and I was distraught, devastated, and of course the players were, too. So, on Thursday, we’ll be out for revenge. It’s as simple as that – we want that Championship title!”
As focused as she is on the massive game ahead of her, Harvey, who as Arsenal manager won the WSL, the FA Cup and the Continental Cup – twice each – this week took time out to contact Liverpool manager Matt Beard following his appointment as head coach of Seattle’s NWSL rivals, the Boston Breakers.
“I’ve dropped Matt a message to give me a call if he’d like to have a chat about coming to work in the NWSL,” she revealed.
“I’ll be happy to give him any advice I think might be useful to him. Boston finished bottom this season so it’s not going to be an easy job, but Matt’s got a good track record in England and that’s obviously why they’ve chosen him.
“His teams are always hard to play against, and I reckon that, once he’s got used to the draft and trading systems over here, he’ll get them on the right
track.”