Wales defender “angry” at Blackburn Rovers situation
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - 08 APRIL 2025: Wales' Rhiannon Roberts during the UEFA Women’s Nations League A Match between Sweden and Wales at Gamla Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg on the 8th April 2025. (Pic by Ashley Crowden/FAW)
Wales defender Rhiannon Roberts has expressed her anger over the situation that’s developing at Blackburn Rovers.
Last week saw Rovers pull out of the Championship, and they will now play in the lower tiers of the pyramid, in a similar move that Reading made last season.
Roberts started her career at Ewood Park and has been a Blackburn fan since childhood but expressed her dismay at the state of the club.
“It’s really disappointing seeing what’s happened to Blackburn, and I feel really angry at the club. I started my career there and I’ve supported Blackburn throughout my childhood, and I feel really disappointed with the club.
“I’m gutted for the staff and the players that have put in so much work over the last few years under the smallest budget that there is. I feel for them, and these things shouldn’t be happening at this level of the women’s game anymore.”
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Spanish Adventure
On the pitch for Roberts herself, at club level, it’s not been the season she and her team would have wanted it to be.
Real Betis were relegated from the Spain’s Liga F this season, finishing 15th and four points away from safety.
Roberts didn’t comment on her club future, but said a lot needed to be done at Betis.
“I’m focused on my international duties at the minute and the Euros. I’m focusing on that for now. It’s been a disappointing year, and the club has been very tough to work with at times. The men’s and women’s sectors are completely opposite.
“The club is a huge club on the men’s side, but it needs a lot more development on its women’s side. That’s been something I’ve wanted to do while I’ve been over there, to try and bring them up to date with everything like we have over here and in the WSL.”
However, what Liga F has given Roberts has been tremendous tests against some of the world’s best forwards.
The defender has faced the likes of Ewa Pajor, Caroline Graham Hansen and Linda Caicedo this campaign, and says those experiences have certainly helped her during this Nations League campaign.
“That’s how I’ve gone into games with Betis this season, knowing I have to stop some of the best attackers in the world. I set myself some little targets for each game and I’m sure that’s what other players have been doing at their clubs as well.
“I’m up against the best players in the world, and what more could I ask for? Especially because I’ll be going against the best in the Euros campaign. We like playing against the best. You’ve got to beat the best to be the best.”
One for the Future
Roberts herself has shown time and time again that, defensively, she can hang with the very best, but with Wales, the entire unit have proven themselves in this Nations League run.
Especially since the playoff against the Republic of Ireland, we’ve seen Wales reconnect with their strong and resolute defensive side, and that’s certainly helped them to stay competitive in every League A game so far.
Roberts praised the work the whole backline has put in but now is eager to see Wales perform at the other end of the pitch.
“We’ve always had that really good foundation defensively. When we went into League B, it gave us an opportunity to work on our attacking side. Now for the next couple of games, we want to try and implement a mix of the two.
“We’re going to have opportunities in front of goal in these two games, and we have to take them, and we’ll be working on that this week. Defensively, we’ve been really solid and conceded the fewest number of goals in the group.”
One member of the defence who has taken to international football like a duck to water has been Mayzee Davies.
The Manchester City youngster has put in solid performances against the likes of Italy and Sweden, and Roberts has touted the centre back to make hundreds of appearances for Wales.
“I think Mayzee can go way over 100 caps, if not 200 caps! She’s fantastic, a really good player. She’s been excelling in training, and you can see she’s really coming out of her shell.
“Mayzee is just going to grow and grow, especially in this environment here. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing her in the future as well as now.”
