The sight of superstars rolling into London Metropolis Lionesses this summer time was thrilling for a lot of, however there was one man who was tasked with making them a workforce – head coach Eder Maestre.
Some questioned how he was going to steadiness a workforce of such expertise – each incoming and already current – most of whom are used to beginning, together with Michele Kang’s imaginative and prescient for disruption – smash the normal massive three and qualify for Europe.
And it’s so far, so good. The Bromley-based membership are third within the WSL with 16 factors – already seven forward of Arsenal – and have confirmed their summer time acquisitions have been extra than simply massive names by means of the door.
In order that begs the query – how has Maestre carried out it?
“It is surprisingly good how briskly we have been in a position to assemble loads of issues, contemplating all of the issues that we now have and making an attempt to know the totally different contexts that the gamers got here from,” he solely informed Sky Sports activities forward of Sunday’s recreation towards Manchester Metropolis.
“It is about making an attempt to create robust values to respect the identification we try to make. We got here from good foundations from the final season, so it is about hold constructing on that.
“The way in which we wish to play – being aggressive out of possession, making an attempt to get better the ball as quickly as doable – is one thing that’s simple to interact the gamers on as a result of everybody desires to have the ball and to make use of it to make the probabilities.
“However the best way you’ll be able to attain that effectivity in video games is the opposite factor that’s the most troublesome, contemplating the chemistry that it’s worthwhile to promote between the gamers. That is why in that general, I am very comfortable.”
Sunday 1st November 11:30am
Kick off 12:00pm
Putellas and Van de Donk affect
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Sky Sports activities’ Uma Gurav displays on Alexia Putellas’ third Ballon d’Or triumph and her plans going ahead
We can not speak about London Metropolis with out mentioning Alexia Putellas. On Monday night, she picked up a record-equalling third Ballon d’Or – the primary for a participant at a present WSL membership.
Her affect in south-east London is rising by the sport. She is the membership’s high league scorer thus far this season and is constructing passing connections along with her team-mates, linking the defence and assault as proven within the go map under.
“Alexia is Alexia,” Maestre stated of his captain. “That is why she’s in a position to create that chemistry so shortly with the workforce surrounding her.
“The way in which she comes again from the accidents that she had, the best way she was pushing, recovering the form, recovering the emotions to win that third Ballon d’Or exhibits everyone how she’s striving each day to be a greater participant.
“That power and management that she has, this consideration to the small print, it helps everyone to push. It is a privilege having these sort of gamers within the squad, not just for the participant that they’re.
“She can be a mirror the place the younger gamers can see themselves, to know what’s the worth to succeed in that concentrate on. It is not about deciding, it’s important to pay the invoice and he or she represents how troublesome it’s having the consistency that she has.”
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London Metropolis Lionesses’ head coach Eder Maestre speaks on Putellas profitable her third Ballon d’Or
One other expertise flying underneath the radar is Danielle van de Donk. The midfielder was injured for a lot of final season however has made a triumphant return this 12 months, already notching up eight aim involvements in eight appearances in all competitions.
“She suffered so much final season because of the accidents that she had,” Maestre stated. “It is so irritating for a participant that brings power to the workforce, to the team-mates. Hopefully this season, she’s in superb form and he or she’s performing very effectively.
“Within the recreation, she represents completely the identification that this workforce desires to have, so I am very comfortable having her concerned. And when she’s on the bench, the best way she will be able to lead, the power that she brings to each a part of the method is wonderful. It is a full pleasure watching her having the ability to deliver her greatest to the workforce.”
‘Beating a top-three workforce the subsequent step’
London Metropolis might want to draw on all of their expertise and success this season after they face unbeaten Manchester Metropolis on Sunday, stay on Sky Sports activities.
The Lionesses are matching the WSL champions in lots of general metrics this season, however have by no means overwhelmed a conventional ‘top-three’ workforce. By Maestre’s personal admission, profitable these video games needs to be the subsequent step of their growth.
In the event that they accomplish that this weekend, London Metropolis go stage on factors with Man Metropolis and Chelsea – nonetheless briefly – they usually certainly need to be thought-about critical title contenders.
“We’re shifting ahead, making good checks, reaching massive outcomes towards groups like Tottenham enjoying away, however one which we have to repair is having the ability to win these sort of groups,” Maestre stated.
“We’re going to have the perfect check we will have thus far as a result of Man Metropolis are those that received the competitors final season.
“If we will present everyone that we’re able to face them whereas respecting our identification and thru that, reaching a superb efficiency and having the ability to win, it is an excellent step to maintain pushing, to maintain displaying everyone that we’re right here for that [top] place within the standings.
“So many coaches clarify how troublesome it’s making a profitable undertaking and it takes time. It is a consequence of repeating each time these profitable behaviours to attempt to create that energy. It is not about having one, two, three good video games.
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Talking on Pitch to Pod, Nikita Parris displays on London Metropolis Lionesses dropping factors to Liverpool and appears forward to their massive top-of-the-table recreation towards Manchester Metropolis
“The massive groups are massive groups as a result of they’d the consistency to be there loads of occasions. That is why it isn’t about reaching, it is about having sufficient consistency to maintain the attain you can obtain in a single second. That is why we should be humble.”
The stats additionally paint a constructive image. London Metropolis have scored eight targets within the opening half-hour of WSL matches this season – essentially the most within the league – whereas Man Metropolis’s defensive numbers are on shaky floor.
The WSL champions have conceded 9 targets in seven WSL video games this season – over twice as many as on the identical stage in 2025/26 (4). It’s their worst defensive begin to a league marketing campaign since 2021/22.
They are saying numbers do not lie, however Maestre just isn’t utilizing them as a free go to the highest of the WSL this weekend.
“Each recreation is totally different,” he mirrored. “Generally it is a few fortunate or unfortunate state of affairs and Man Metropolis are doing the identical issues that they have been doing final season.
“This competitors could be very powerful, so everybody can punish everyone, so this humble mentality needs to be certainly one of our robust values to maintain pushing and to have this consistency.
“We should push as we did within the video games earlier than with all the idea that we will attain that efficiency that we count on to have, that consequence that we’re dreaming that we will have.
“If they aren’t profitable out and in of possession, we shall be there to make the most of that, however we can not count on that they’re going to concede one thing as a result of we’re going to be flawed.”
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Highlights of Liverpool towards London Metropolis Lionesses within the Girls’s Tremendous League
London Metropolis have received their final 5 house WSL video games – solely Man Metropolis having extra (16) – and Maestre desires the house help to be a key a part of any efficiency.
“We’re actually conscious of the significance of the sport that we now have forward and we’re going to push for the win, respecting the identification that we have been making an attempt to construct for the reason that first day right here.
“That is why we’re going to want their power from the stands, as a result of we’re going to be in powerful moments. If they are often participant quantity 12, we’re going to be nearer to the efficiency and the scoring that we’re on the lookout for.”
Watch London Metropolis Lionesses vs Man Metropolis within the WSL on Sunday, stay on Sky Sports activities; kick-off 12pm; watch in-game clips and free match highlights throughout Sky Sports activities’ digital platforms
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