‘Our vision is to be the best in England. This is just the start’, says London City Lionesses’ Kosovare Asllani
KOSOVARE ASLLANI hopes London City Lionesses’ can one day claw their way to the top of club football in England.
The Sweden forward was on target in her first Women’s Championship game, with her side drawing 1-1 with Newcastle.
The London City skipper, who made her first competitive appearance following a June move from AC Milan, said: “The vision is to be the best in England and this is just the start.
“Even though we are a Championship team, we don’t want to be treated as one.
“We demand one hundred per cent professionalism. That’s why I am here and the other girls as well.”
Asllani’s 39th-minute strike, which cancelled out Shania Hayles’ opener for the visitors, was her first goal in her first competitive game for her side.
London owner Michelle Kang was among the football powerbrokers watching from the stands at Hayes Lane Stadium.
The American businesswoman, who also owns Washington Spirit and Lyon Women was joined by Women’s Professional Leagues Ltd (WPLL) chief Nikki Doucet and WPLL chair Dawn Airey.
Asllani added: “It was great to score my first goal and help the team when we were 1-0 down. I think we have even more in us.
“We’re in the beginning of building something here.
“We still have a lot to do in terms of building the facilities and it’s an ongoing project which will be done as soon as possible to give us the best resources.
“I feel it’s something special that we won’t have to demand things in the future.
“Michelle understands what we need and will give us everything we need to create a successful team.
“I think that’s the coolest part, that it’s a woman investing.”
Of the journey London City are embarking on, head coach Jocelyn Precheur said: “It’s not a new chapter, it’s a new book that we are writing.
“With all the respect I have for London City before Michele bought the club, we cannot be compared to a club like Newcastle, it’s like the two opposites.
“We have everything to build, we have fans to seduce and convince to follow us, a history to create, so it was the first page of the new story.
“It could have been better, it could have been worse, but anyway the first match is done and I hope the journey will be long and beautiful.”
Newcastle’s first appearance in the Championship saw Becky Langley hand competitive debuts to Lasses captain Demi Stokes, defender Deanna Cooper and goalscorer Hayles.
The trio are among the club’s new signings this summer with Stokes joining after nine-years at Manchester City, and Cooper moving from Reading following their relegation to the third tier last season.
Newcastle boss Langley said: “Shania is an exciting player and she took her chance really well.
“I thought Demi and Deanna were both phenomenal. They bring a calmness to the group.
“Deanna handled the threat in behind really well.
“They’re great and very experienced, including Deanna in terms of her time at Chelsea.
“It’s great to learn from her and she tells me a lot about when she worked with Emma Hayes.
“And Demi is phenomenal in terms of how she leads the group and the quality she brings on the pitch.”
Both London City and Newcastle have undergone some changes in recent years following the teams benefitting from financial backing after coming under new ownership.
And Langley hailed the investment that has been sunk into her side and their rivals with both among the teams tipped for WSL promotion.
The Newcastle gaffer added: “It’s fantastic for both teams to have that financial and emotional investment.
“We’re excited by our investment and that we’re still pumping money into the women’s team to get to the WSL as quickly as possible.”