I genuinely believe we can beat Everton, says Charlton Athletic midfielder Nikita Whinnett

Saturday 11th April 2015

NIKITA WHINNETT believes Charlton Athletic are good enough and confident enough to pull of an FA Women’s Cup shock against Everton on Sunday (2pm).

The Addicks travel to Widnes to face the Toffees in the Quarter Final of the competition as the last team left from outside the FA Women’s Super League (FAWSL) divisions.

PLOTTING A CUP SHOCK: Charlton Athletic travel to play Everton in The FA Women's Cup Quarter-Finals - the Final will be played at Wembley Stadium.
Photo: www.cafcwomen.co.uk

However, having not tasted defeat since November, Whinnet believes her side can take a step closer to a Wembley final despite being the underdogs.

“I think we can beat them, I genuinely think we can beat them,” she told www.cafcwomen.co.uk.

“Obviously the pressure is off but we’ve also got to believe that we are good enough, otherwise there’s no point being part of the FA Cup if you’re never going to push yourself or never going to believe.

“At the end of the day, if we get promoted [to the FAWSL] we’re going to have to play against teams like that week in, week out so we’ve got to believe.

“You’ve got to put your heart on your sleeve and fight for everything on that football pitch because if you don’t then you’re at the wrong level of football.”

It will be an extra special occasion for the Liverpool-born winger, having started her footballing career with Everton as a youngster, before moving on to the club she supports, Liverpool.

She added: “I am absolutely ecstatic about playing against Everton, I cannot lie. I played there when I was 11, so to go back now after all this time will be fantastic.

“I’ve got so many family members coming, it’s going to be a fantastic day. I want to be starting that game, I want to finish that game, I want to win that game.

“You want to be playing at that level anyway, regardless of whether you think you’re good enough or not, that’s where you want to be playing.”

Visit Charlton Athletic’s website: www.cafcwomen.co.uk