West Ham United head coach Rita Guarino emphasizes the need for a strong defensive strategy as her team prepares to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. This upcoming match is particularly challenging, especially given West Ham’s record of just one away win in the Barclays Women’s Super League this season.
Focus on Defensive Strategy
In her pre-match press conference, Guarino stressed the importance of defensive organization. She noted that Arsenal is known for generating numerous scoring opportunities, making defensive focus essential. “Arsenal create a lot of chances, so it’s another game where we need to be focused defensively,” said Guarino.
She highlighted the size of the Emirates pitch as a factor that requires her players to maintain distance and cohesion. “It’s a big pitch; we need to be very focused,” Guarino added.
Building on Recent Performance
West Ham recently achieved a noteworthy 0-0 draw against Manchester United at The Chigwell Construction Stadium, which Guarino considers a vital step forward. “It was a good result for us, especially against a team near the top of the table. We need to keep this confidence,” she remarked.
Currently, West Ham is three points clear of the relegation play-off spot in the league standings and has a superior goal difference compared to bottom-placed Leicester City. However, Guarino maintains that her team should not dwell on the rankings at this point in the season.
Looking Ahead
Guarino insists that the team’s performance is the primary focus. “We don’t need to watch the table in this moment because everything can change in a few games. We need to focus on what we can obtain from our games,” she stated.
Fans can look forward to watching West Ham’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture against Arsenal, which kicks off at 12pm.
