Everton defender Elise Stenevik believes the Blues have the potential to take all three points when they take on Manchester City in the Women's Super League on Saturday.
The left-back made the switch to Merseyside in September after a spell with Swedish club Eskilstuna United in the Damallsvenskan. Stenevik became Brian Sorensen's ninth summer signing and the 23-year-old has made a bright start to life at Walton Hall Park, featuring in all six of Everton's league games so far this term.
“It’s going good," Stenevik told the ECHO. "I think the level is much higher here and the quality of the training is much higher but I’m enjoying it.
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"It’s a really developing place. (The manager) is giving the players the opportunity show themselves which is really beneficial for everyone.”
Everton have the youngest starting XI in the WSL this season, and Stenevik thinks the blend of youth and experience has been instrumental in her side's positive start to the campaign. “There are so many really big talents," she said.
"In Norway and Sweden, when I was playing, there were talents, but here there is something special about them so it’s really nice to train with them every day and see how good they are. I think (the experienced players) set a really good tone in the group.
"I think Izzy (Christiansen) is really good for the group because she’s been here for a long time and knows the game so she can pinpoint everybody else into the right direction.”
The Blues currently sit seventh in the WSL table, having won three of their opening six games. On Saturday, they'll welcome fourth-placed Manchester City to Walton Hall Park, with Gareth Taylor's side looking to pick up their fifth consecutive WSL victory.
“I think it will be a really interesting game," Stenevik said. "We have the potential to beat them in the same way we had potential to beat United, even though we didn’t perform very well in that game. I think we can beat them on a good day.”
For the young defender, playing in the top flight of the women's game is a dream come true. The Norway youth international was born and raised in the coastal town of Florø, and spent most of her childhood playing alongside her male peers.
“I’m from a really small island so there weren’t any girls teams where I grew up," she said. "I started playing with a boys team when I was seven. and it wasn't until I moved to Bergen, Norway's biggest city, when I was 15 that I started playing alongside girls for the first time. “
Reflecting on her journey from Florø to the WSL, Stenevik said: “It was always the goal for me but it's one thing dreaming about it and another thing doing it. It’s a big difference playing in front of a crowd that’s loud so it really gives you extra energy to push and enjoy the game so it’s been really fun actually.”
The last-minute postponement of Everton's last fixture against Tottenham and the subsequent international break means it's been almost three weeks since the blues were in WSL action, and Stenevik said her side are raring to go for Saturday's clash with Manchester City.
“I think a lot of players are really excited to play a game," she said. "The players are coming back from their international teams and some of us have had a few days off so there’s a lot of energy in the group.”
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