Villa 'in a better place' a year into Arroyo's tenure

Natalia Arroyo says Aston Villa are "in a better place" than when she first arrived at the club as she reflects on almost a year in charge.

Villa were in a relegation battle in her first few months but they now sit eighth in the table with three wins and four draws from 11 WSL matches this season.

Spaniard Arroyo used the winter break to "refect on the dreams" she had when she was appointed in January 2025 - and believes they are on course to achieve them.

"We are definitely building this. There is a lot of things we're learning in the process like how to keep stable emotionally and to be consistent," said Arroyo.

"That was hard at the beginning because of the results and the tension of relegation. It's something every manager needs to learn. It was about staying steady.

"I'm still growing, asking for help and reading up on stuff. The club is really investing in the squad and we have bigger plans. We are building for the future.

"Now we need to grow our style. There is still a lot to do but in the big picture, we are in a better place than when I first arrived."