Rita Guarino believes West Ham United Women showed the mentality she wants to become a defining feature of her team during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over London City Lionesses.
Kelly Gago opened the scoring after 21 minutes before Viviane Asseyi doubled the advantage shortly after half-time.
London City responded through Daniëlle van de Donk late on, but West Ham survived the pressure to secure their first Women’s Super League victory of the season.
It represented an immediate response to the opening-day defeat against Tottenham and, for Guarino, the manner of the win was particularly significant.
Guarino wants West Ham spirit every week
Speaking after the game, Guarino told The Guardian that she saw “the spirit that I want to see every time” from her players.
The West Ham boss added that the fighting qualities shown against London City are “part of our identity” and need to appear in every game.
That should encourage Guarino after the scale of the club’s summer rebuild.
West Ham added ten players before the new campaign and the challenge has been turning that collection of talent into a settled side.
Saki Kumagai is one of those additions. The former London City midfielder made her first West Ham start on Saturday after making an immediate impact from the bench against Tottenham.
Read West Ham previously looked at Kumagai’s encouraging debut contribution after she assisted Asseyi’s goal only days after joining the club.
Gago and Asseyi give West Ham attacking reward
West Ham also received encouraging contributions further forward.
Gago raced through to open the scoring before Asseyi finished a rapid counter-attack three minutes after the interval.
Asseyi has now scored in both of West Ham’s opening WSL fixtures.
The improvement from the 3-1 defeat against Tottenham was clear.
West Ham still have a considerable amount of work ahead after such significant squad turnover.
But Guarino now has her first league victory of the season — and, perhaps more importantly, a performance she can point towards as the standard she expects.
