Manchester United ace Williams opens up on FA Cup and title hopes and scoring at Old Trafford
RACHEL WILLIAMS plans to live in the moment if she nets against West Ham today at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United ace was among the scorers the last time the title chasers played at the Theatre of Dreams in the WSL.
Williams entered the fray in the 85th-minute of a clash with Aston Villa.
It took the tenacious forward just eight more to find the back of the net for Marc Skinner’s side during their 5-0 win.
Williams, 35, said: “I was just sitting there and kept looking at the manager hoping he would give me the nod to come on.
“Then when I came on I just thought ‘go on the pitch and do what I’ve done best throughout my career’.
“To score at Old Trafford is a ground to tick off the list.
“I’ve played at a few (big grounds) now, and I don’t think I even celebrated to be honest.
“I should have gone a bit more mad, ran to the fans – so if I get my chance again in the game against West Ham
“I’m definitely going to live in the moment”
Williams, who joined United from Tottenham last July, is aiding her team’s pursuit of their first WSL crown.
The Red Devils are second and two points behind Chelsea in the WSL with the Blues carrying a game in hand.
Defeat of the Irons during Women’s Football Weekend would see them keep pace with their title rivals.
The duel at Old Trafford is among the top-flight WSL games being played at bigger stadiums this weekend with the aim of attracting bigger crowds.
On being in a battle for the WSL title, the versatile forward added: “I’ve been in it twice before but it wasn’t at the level it was like now.
“You take each game as it comes. You can only control what’s in your hands.
“Get your job done, that’s ticked off. Everything else you can’t control, you can just hope.
“It won’t be an easy run with where the game’s at.
“I will keep my head down and where we end up is where we deserve to be.”
Williams, who is the WSL’s first Golden Boot winner, is no stranger to winning trophies including an FA Cup with Birmingham City in 2012.
Whilst sat at Wembley watching last May’s men’s and women’s finals she made herself a promise to reach one with United.
Last Sunday saw the team make history, knocking out Lewes to enter the contest’s semis for the first time.
And Williams, who has juggled her career with running a plastering business, hopes United can dispatch Brighton at this stage in April.
She added: “I love the FA Cup and I went to the men’s and women’s finals last year.
“I sat there and thought ‘next year, I’m going to be in this final.’ I just wanted to be in another final.
“No matter how I do it, I will do all I can to give myself the best chance to be there.
“Now to be in the semi-final and one step closer – and do that in the United shirt in my first season – for me I’m already happy.
“United have never been in the final.
“Every day I’m looking forward to what we do and seeing what people are achieving here. Hopefully we’ll get there.”
Williams is among the veteran stars of the WSL having played in the league since its inception in 2011.
At club level the forward has played for Doncaster Rovers Belles, Birmingham, Chelsea and Notts County Ladies as well as Leicester, Tottenham and now United.
Her 18-year career has also seen her make 13 senior England appearances as well being part of the Team GB squad at the 2012 Olympics.
This term Williams is aiding the Red Devils’ pursuit to play for the Champions League as well their push for the WSL title.
The WSL star recalls balancing her plastering job with playing in the contest with Birmingham in 2012.
She added: “It was weird back then working (as a plasterer) and then having to play in the Champions League. For United it would be massive.
“It is one of the aims a lot of people want to achieve this year.
“To get that experience with this team – it’s not a guarantee – it’s in our control and we want to get there.
“It will be so much more heightened than it was back then.
“When I was in it with Birmingham I didn’t really understand it and it was just another game.
“But with the importance of it now, and that it can also be a dream to play in the Champions League game.
“For us we just have to stay on track for that.”