Eder Maestre emphasises humility and ambition ahead of first WSL clash

London City Lionesses head coach, Eder Maestre has called for a balance of humility and ambition as his side prepare to face Liverpool Women on Sunday, 11th January, in his first match in charge of the club.

Despite Liverpool currently sitting at the bottom of the league and yet to secure a win this season, Maestre was quick to dismiss any suggestion of complacency, stressing the importance of respecting their performances against top opposition:  

“Liverpool are a team that often receive less than they deserve. They played very well against Arsenal, and the Chelsea game was a peculiar one. To compete with them, we must be very humble and fully recognise their strengths.”

Team news

Looking ahead to Sunday’s fixture, Maestre confirmed Danielle van de Donk is close to returning to full training, while the rest of the squad is available for selection. 

“Everyone is training now. That makes squad selection difficult- but in a positive way.”

Building from humility  

Maestre underlined that humility will form the foundation of his philosophy, even as he maintains high standards and ambitions for the squad:

“If we want to win, we must outperform our opponent while acknowledging their quality. That means entering every match with a warlike mindset-not arrogance, but total respect combined with ambition.”

Asked what he would like to see from his players, the Spaniard highlighted intensity, energy, and adaptability:

“As a very ambitious coach, I want us to strike the balance between performing at the highest level and having the energy to be our best selves. I enjoy aggressive football and thinking about how to win every game. That mentality must start with humility.”

First week in charge

Reflecting on his first week at the club, Maestre described the experience as intense but extremely positive: 

“I was very excited by what I saw every day-the players, the staff, and the resources we have to build something strong. It’s been a busy and demanding week, but in a very good way.”

Currently sitting sixth in the table, Maestre believes the squad already has solid foundations to build upon:

“The foundations are strong. Now we want to add precision and play some really good games. We are in a humble position, but we have enormous dreams - and that balance is very important.”

Style, identify, and leadership

Maestre outlined his approach as a head coach, describing himself as ambitious, detail-oriented, and close to his players:

“I’m not a role-player as a coach. I’m ambitious, approachable, and very focused on details. I like to be close to the players, to explain decisions clearly, and to create an adaptive environment where everyone understands the collective vision.”

While acknowledging that it is still early in his tenure, Maestre said his immediate focus is clear:

“This is my first week here, so we are still developing ideas. But I’m ambitious- my focus is on scoring goals and collecting three points. It will be a very challenging match.”

Why London City Lionesses?

Maestre also spoke about what attracted him to the London City Lionesses project after leaving Tenerife:

“I was considering going home and taking a few days off. Then this opportunity came. I believe London City Lionesses is one of the best projects in women’s football, and I couldn’t say no.”

A lifelong admirer of English football, Maestre expressed his enthusiasm for working in the English game:

“English football is more direct and emotional, while Spanish football is more composed. I love the aggressive atmosphere combined with technical quality, and I’m very happy to be part of this league.”

Short-term focus, long-term vision

While long-term ambitions align closely with the club’s vision, Maestre insists the focus remains on steady, incremental progress:

“I prefer a step-by-step approach. We must be better tomorrow than we are today. The victory must be the result of weekly work and training.”

When asked about league targets, Maestre was clear than no specific position has been set:

“My objective is to win every game. We prepare every week, and we’ll see where that takes us.”