London City Lionesses boss Precheur: We have nothing to lose against Arsenal | OneFootball

London City Lionesses  (Will Hope / SPP)

London City Lionesses manager Jocelyn Precheur says his side have nothing to lose when they begin their Women’s Super League campaign against Arsenal.

Formerly manager of Paris Saint Germain, Precheur led his team to promotion from what was the Women’s Championship (now WSL2) last season, and their first test in the top flight will be against the UEFA Women’s Champions League holders.

“It’s not an easy one for sure, but it cannot be better than that,” he told Sky Sports.

“Look at the history of the club, how amazing it is and the first game of our history in the WSL, we play the champions of Europe in an amazing stadium.

“And honestly, we have nothing to lose. I see not many people expect us to do something, which is easier for us in terms of management.

“Whatever happens, we will have a lot of lessons from this game so, for me, only positive things.”

His team has a significant amount of elite experience, though, with Netherlands international Danielle van de Donk, Lioness Nikita Parris, Alanna Kennedy of Australia and Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani all in the squad.

“These new players are essential for me on and off the pitch,” he said.

“I’m very happy the club decided to invest. We have a sporting director now in the club, so he’s really in charge of the recruitment.”

Asllani: We’re not going to go down

Precheur added that he did not want his team to repeat the track record of previous newly-promoted sides, relegated immediately – such as Crystal Palace, whose tenure in the top flight lasted just one season.

And captain Asllani – who has now been with the club for over a year, stepping into the second tier to help them to promotion – rejected the idea that London City Lionesses will be in the relegation mix.

“We are a new team in the league, but we are not an inexperienced team. We have experienced players all over the squad.

“We have players winning the Champions League and playing in big tournaments with their countries.

“And we are London City Lionesses, we’re writing history. We’re not going to go down.”

London City Lionesses are one of three clubs – alongside Washington Spirit in the US and OL Lyonnes in France – that have been acquired by Michele Kang and operate under her Kynisca Sports International organisation.

London City Lionesses begin their WSL campaign against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday, September 6th.