West Ham forward Viviane Asseyi has said “the team is the star” as the club looks to build upon last season’s 11th place finish in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
The Hammers have lost key players including Mackenzie Arnold over the summer, but Asseyi believes the club has enough to improve upon a disappointing season last time out.
“We’re the type of team that doesn’t have a big, big star, but we have a lot of international players. I would say that the team is the star; everyone has to give everything to put the club high and I think everyone knows that.”
“Of course, we have lost good players, but we’ve also brought good players. They need time because they’ve just arrived, but the star will be the team.”
Speaking on one such new signing, Asseyi has high hopes for new goalkeeper Kinga Szemik, noting that “coming after Mackenzie [Arnold] is not an easy job, but she’s done well. She’s very professional and I like it.”
“I said to her, I think she will enjoy the league, and I hope all the best for her. I hope she’ll save a lot of goals.”
Reflecting on her own performances last year, Asseyi believes she still has room for improvement. After scoring six league goals last season, she’s hoping for a few more this time round.
Embed from Getty Images“When you feel good in the team, of course you will do good things on the pitch. I scored goals, but not enough; if I scored a lot of goals, we wouldn’t have been in this position in the table.”
“I know that I will learn a lot every day and I will give my best to get more goals, but when you feel good in the team, the team will be better.”
She certainly is feeling good now, too. The club has undergone a lot of internal growth since appointing Rehanne Skinner as manager last season, and with everything she’s given, Asseyi is hopeful this season will yield better results and a better position in the table.
“Everything has got better. Rehanne, since she’s been here, has brought a lot of things. She’s worked really hard for all of us at the club and I think that’s how you build a good club, because you need people around you.”
“Of course, we play football, but we need a nutritionist, we need everything around us, so yeah, the club and Rehanne have brought that.”
With Skinner now approaching her second season in charge, Asseyi believes the move from a transitionary phase to one more stable can only be a good thing.
“There was a lot of frustration. Sometimes, there were some games where we played really well but then we lost.”
“It was a transition year. It’s not easy when you arrive in the team with players you don’t know, but this year is more stable. Of course, we’re still improving, but we’re more stable and you know what, women’s football is growing so everyone has to follow that, and that’s good.”
After spending pre-season in Australia, West Ham will kick off their Women’s Super League campaign with a trip to Manchester United on September 21st, and Asseyi will be an important figure if they’re to climb the table.
