Aleixandri: We’re ready for Chelsea challenge | OneFootball

Laia Aleixandri says City are well prepared for the clash against top of the table Chelsea in this weekend’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture.

Gareth Taylor’s side are on a 13-game unbeaten run in the WSL with our last defeat at the hands of this weekend’s opponents back in September 2022 where we fell to a 2-0 loss at Kingsmeadow.

We welcome the Londoners to the Academy Stadium on Sunday, 26 March, with kick-off scheduled for 12:40 (UK) where City will be looking to achieve a more positive result.

With an impressive run of form for both teams since the last encounter, we are in touching distance of the top spot as we sit two points behind league leaders Chelsea in third place.

Aleixandri is confident that the preparation and learnings that City have onboarded will be key to success this weekend.

“I think the team is now very comfortable with the work and all the wins we achieved before. I think we are in the right way to continue, and we need to win every match so we are happy to work hard and continue this way,” said Aleixandri.

“We are a really good group of personalities and professionals and that is important to be together and to get wins.

“This is also key for this team to be strong and together. [We’re] working hard and we know what we have to do together and keep it this way.

“I think that all matches are different, but we know the way Chelsea play so that’s good for us and we know all of our strengths, so that’s good.

“I know that maybe we have to be smart when we lose the ball and press and also keep the ball. So, that’s what I think will be key for the match,” Aleixandri continued.

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Chelsea head into Sunday’s fixture off the back of a crucial 1-0 win over Champions League holders Olympique Lyonnaise in the quarter-final first leg in France on Wednesday evening.

Their most recent loss in all competitions saw them fall to a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Continental Cup final earlier this month.

City experienced similar heartbreak last weekend after an extra-time goal by Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly saw us exit the FA Cup in the quarter-final after a 2-1 defeat.

Aleixandri is looking to help City bounce back from that defeat as we welcome the Blues.

On a personal level, she’s confident about what she will be able to offer to Taylor’s side on Sunday after a positive spell at right-back this campaign.

The 21-year-old has made 14 appearances under Taylor since joining in July 2022.

“I feel really good. I am enjoying and also helping the team in each situation that happens and I’m really comfortable and happy to be there and it’s a compliment for me to play in different positions, so [I’m] happy.”