Manchester United and Lioness star Nikita Parris lines up for yet another FA Cup final but for the first time in a Reds shirt, a historic moment for the club: “It's an occasion and of course the first time Manchester United have got to the final of the FA Cup so for a lot of the girls it's their first time playing at Wembley which is a historic stadium, a big stadium.
“And the FA Cup final itself is such a historic moment in women’s football in England, for me, it's a special competition. I can remember it since I was a kid so it does bring a little bit of pressure but the pressure is a privilege and that’s what Marc always tells us,“ Parris acknowledged to MEN Sport.
The 29-year-old has learned the hard way, to play the game and not the occasion: “For me personally, I live through experience. I got to the final of the FA Cup with Everton and lost sorely against Arsenal. Kelly Smith was a masterclass in that game.
“Actually, watching her in that game helped me be better in the future because she could just play that game like it was any normal Sunday league game - she was so calm and composed and that. That Aura she had, the rest of the players in that team whether they were young or more experienced, they were settled they were comfortable and to be fair that's because they had someone, such a leader like Kelly.
“And I think that was amazing to watch, being the opposition and just seeing how she could slow the game down with how she played. How she told her players to 'quickly go get that ball for a throw-in' then 'no slow it down', it was unreal.
“She basically pep-talked them through the whole game and I think having someone with that much experience to be able to take that weight off your player's back, that's so important.
“I’ve never discussed it with her, I think to be fair every time I’ve seen Kelly Smith I'm a bit star-struck,” said Parris laughing. “I have never said much [to her], just 'Alright girl!' That's about it,” she continued still laughing away.
A laid-back approach to one of the biggest games of the season blessed me with an opportunity to see right into the core of Parris as a person. We see her competitive, hard-working nature out on the field fighting for a starting place with Lucia Garcia: “It allows no complacency. It's important that you’ve got that in the team and for me personally, I like the challenge,” said Parris as she shifted back into work-focus mode.
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