Rita Guarino believes West Ham United Women may already have discovered the midfield partnership capable of driving their new-look side forward.
Katie Zelem and Saki Kumagai started together during last weekend’s 2-1 victory over London City Lionesses.
It was Kumagai’s first West Ham start following her Deadline Day arrival, but there were few signs of two players still learning how to operate alongside one another.
Guarino has now revealed just how impressed she has been with their early understanding.
Guarino praises Zelem and Kumagai partnership
Speaking before Sunday’s Women’s Super League meeting with Everton, Guarino highlighted the qualities Zelem and Kumagai provide both with and without possession.
“They know what to do with the ball and they also work well out of possession,” Guarino said.
“I think they have the chemistry to work together, they speak the same football language.”
The comments were included in Guarino’s latest West Ham team-news update, but the partnership itself could become one of the most important developments of the season.
Zelem already carries significant responsibility as West Ham captain.
Kumagai adds another player with enormous experience at the highest level.
The Japan international joined West Ham from London City Lionesses earlier this month after winning five Women’s Champions League titles and league honours across several European countries.
That experience was immediately noticeable against her former club.
West Ham midfield shut down London City stars
London City arrived at Victoria Road with a midfield containing some of the biggest names in the WSL.
Alexia Putellas, Rosa Kafaji and Grace Geyoro gave the visitors enough technical quality to dominate possession.
West Ham still controlled many of the decisive areas.
The Guardian’s WSL review highlighted the developing Zelem-Kumagai partnership as one of the key reasons Putellas and Kafaji struggled to impose themselves.
Riko Ueki also contributed heavily ahead of the midfield pair.
West Ham finished with only 35 per cent possession but won 66 duels compared with London’s 50 and recorded 13 interceptions to their opponents’ seven.
Those numbers help explain Guarino’s praise.
Zelem and Kumagai do not need West Ham to dominate the ball to influence matches.
Both understand where danger is developing and when to protect the space behind the first line of pressure.
Read West Ham’s tactical analysis of the London City victory identified that midfield structure as one of the biggest reasons Guarino’s game plan succeeded.
Everton can provide another test
The challenge now is making that performance repeatable.
West Ham host Everton on Sunday looking for consecutive WSL victories after recovering from their opening defeat against Tottenham.
Guarino has several midfield combinations available following a busy summer of recruitment.
However, her comments suggest Zelem and Kumagai have quickly established a strong understanding.
Their skill sets also appear complementary.
Zelem offers passing range and leadership from central areas.
Kumagai brings positional discipline, physical intelligence and huge experience of controlling important matches.
Together they can give West Ham the platform required for the attacking players ahead of them to take more risks.
Everton should provide another examination of that balance.
There is still a long way to go before any midfield combination can be considered established after only two league matches.
But Guarino has already seen enough to identify something significant.
Two experienced midfielders appear to understand exactly what the other wants.
As the West Ham boss put it, they are already speaking the same football language.
