Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby
Ask the Northern Ireland players to describe manager Tanya Oxtoby in one word and 'demanding' is likely to be a common answer.
A bit like Oliver Twist, Oxtoby is always asking for more – and admits as much herself.
The good thing for Oxtoby is that her players are responsive to those demands. In the six months since she stepped into the job they have listened, learned and taken her expectations on board.
Now, as the first phase of her reign comes to a close in the second leg of Women’s Nations League promotion/relegation play-off, captain Marissa Callaghan has a demand of her own – that all the work done on the training ground since September will combine and be there for all to see on the pitch against Montenegro at Windsor Park.
“I always want more – and Marissa will laugh at me when I say that,” said Oxtoby as she faced the media in the build up to the game.
Callaghan, sitting to Oxtoby’s left, did indeed laugh, with an eye-roll suggesting that the players are indeed getting used to their manager’s demanding nature.
“We’ve been talking all window about it’s about us and making sure that we are developing and continuing on our journey,” she said.
“They want to be better, they want to keep growing and they want to keep learning. I am really lucky that they are internally motivated to want to be better.”
The demands are such that while Oxtoby spent time at home with her family in Australia over Christmas and New Year, the players were kicking back into action in preparation for the double header. It is elite level football after all.
Leading 2-0 from the first leg in Podgorica last Friday thanks to goals from Lauren Wade and Demi Vance, Northern Ireland are well placed to complete
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