Man Utd Women host first fans’ conference with Gabby George and Emma Watson answering supporters’ questions

Carol: Do you think it would benefit the women’s game if former players took up refereeing? And is that something that either of you would consider at the end of your career?

Emma: “I’m not sure I would want to go into refereeing. I think it could be a benefit if former players want to go down that route because you see so many, when they come out of the game, they go into coaching and management. But going down the refereeing route could be an option potentially.”

Gabby: “I think it would be beneficial if they did. But I also think we just have to continue focusing on giving them more training to improve what we have, because I think not all football managers have played football before. So it doesn’t mean they can’t be good at the job. I think it’s just having more access and more facilities to improve them. And I wouldn’t go into refereeing.”

Amelia: How would you encourage younger girls to get into sport?

Gabby: “I think in terms of sport, it’s an environment where you can go and be yourself and let energy out. I think young girls get into it because their parents put them into it, thinking, ‘oh, we need them to run around instead of running around the house.’ But I think, if something is for you, the most important thing is make sure you enjoy it. It doesn’t matter if you’re not the best at it. I think the enjoyment is what gets you through and what pushes you to want to improve.”

Emma: “I second that. I think it is massive to make sure that you enjoy and love what you do. It would be brilliant for more young girls to get into sports, especially football, and hopefully us as role models – they can see us and and where we’re at and maybe be inspired by that and want to get involved.”

Ben: What advice would you give me to implement everyday to improve my football?

Emma: “I think to just give it 100% every day and give it your all.”

Gabby: “I agree with Emma and I think like what I said before, it’s about enjoyment. So if you enjoy it, you’ll give 100% no matter what because that’s what you want to do. So I think it’s just about giving 100% and enjoying yourself.”

Rebecca: Emma, you said in the UTD Podcast about joining and getting injured before your debut was going from the highest high to the lowest low. How do you cope with that mentally and will it make the debut, when it comes, all the better now?

Emma: “It was the highest high to the lowest low. But I think it’s just about having a bit of trust in the process and that knowing that injuries are part of sport. Unfortunately these things happen. So I think it’s just trying to stay positive every single day. And, coming into training, giving it my all, knowing that what I’m doing every day, the wee small things are going to add up to the big result at the end. So yeah, trying to stay upbeat, trying to stay positive and just working hard every single day. Then, hopefully, I’ll get to that end result.”