Kaminski: Motivation is not an issue for this team
Palace Women’s head coach Laura Kaminski shared her thoughts following a tough 5-0 defeat away to Arsenal in the Women’s Super League.
Despite the result, she praised her team’s effort and highlighted some of the key takeaways from the performance.
Kaminski said: "It was a tough test today, I thought we held our own in the first-half. Conceding from a set-piece was disappointing because we’ve been strong in those situations.
"The players were frustrated, but at half-time, the message was clear: we were still very much in the game.
"It was 1-0, and we came out ready to push on."
Reflecting on the second-half, Kaminski noted how difficult it became after Arsenal’s second goal.
"The second goal was a turning point. It’s hard to maintain high lines and compact distances against a team with Arsenal’s possession stats.
"Our players worked tirelessly, but when you’re defending constant waves of attack, focus can slip, and they punish any lapse," she said.
Kaminski also expressed pride in her squad's collective effort.
She said: "The players who came on fitted in well. Everyone gave everything, but world-class sides like Arsenal expose any weaknesses.
"We’ll learn from this and aim to stay stronger for 90 minutes."
Despite the defeat, she remains optimistic about the season.
"Motivation isn’t an issue. We knew the challenges of this league—there are essentially two leagues within one.
"Some games are about containing top teams; others are chances to go on the front foot. We’ll regroup and focus on upcoming matches where we can impose ourselves more.
"This week’s been a whirlwind: a big cup win followed by this loss. It shows the contrast in levels.
"We’ll stay composed, keep building, and focus on key opportunities ahead."
Kaminski and the team will look to bounce back on Sunday against Tottenham Hotspur in the WSL, with tickets still available for that fixture here!