Eder Maestre previews Brighton as he adapts to the “more physical” WSL demands

London City Lionesses head coach Eder Maestre spoke to the media ahead of his side’s fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Following a tough 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the WSL last weekend, London City must respond and regain positive form.

Team news and injuries

“We have some players recovering from long-term injuries. We will see the full details in the medical report, but we are managing their recovery carefully. We don’t have final information yet.”

Following Maestre’s appointment, London City Lionesses have implemented several squad changes, including the permanent departure of Sofia Jakobsson and the loan of Katie Zelem to West Ham United. However, the head coach is focussed on working in the present with his current squad:

“I focus on the players I have available. My responsibility is to work with them, so I concentrate on what I can influence rather than areas I cannot control.”

The opposition

Maestre was complimentary of Brighton as a side who are tactically adept and adapt strongly to their opposition positionally:

“Brighton are a very strong team. They can change shape when defending and can attack in both halves.

They have very talented players in midfield, on the wings, and in attack. They are dangerous because of their finishing mindset, their ability to recover quickly, and their flexibility on the pitch.

They usually play in formations like a 4-4-2, either in flat lines or in a diamond, and put a lot of energy into their movements. They are very well-managed and can really push the play outward.”

Respects to Dario Vidošić

Following the recent passing of Brighton’s head coach’s father, Rado Vidošioć, Maestre showed extra respect and compassion towards the manager and his situation:

“The situation around Dario Vidošić is very difficult, as he recently lost his father. The interim period is challenging, both professionally and personally. This adds an extra dimension for us to consider when facing them.

Everyone in their group is very supportive of Dario and his family, and it’s something we respect.”

Preparations and mindset

Ahead of this WSL fixture, Maestre says preparations are underway, and mentality will prove key in the fight for three points:

“We know it will be difficult. We prepare every week with the hope of winning. This is a demanding and beautiful competition, and we understand that every team has the potential to be tough.

If we win, other teams will lose points against their opponents, so we need to focus on ourselves and connect our ambitions and dreams to each game.

If we can maintain the energy we showed in the last match, I think we will be close to our chance of winning against every team in the league.”

Brighton are strong in their ability to provide successful counterattacks and comeback in tight fixtures, which Maestre addresses:

“Brighton is strong in counterattacks, and we need to neutralise those moments.

They have multiple ways to reach dangerous situations, which shows how well-managed and flexible they are. Our focus will be on defending effectively and being aware of their strengths in these situations.”

Bouncing back from defeats

Regarding recent defeats in the WSL, Maestre is determined to respond and increase confidence within his squad, contributing to success and forward-thinking mentalities:

“The matches against Liverpool and Manchester City were difficult. Liverpool is a very strong team, and against Tottenham, we felt we deserved more.

Our performance is improving, and we are gaining confidence in our match plans. We need to stay ambitious, keep pushing, and deliver our best performance every day. The way we built from the last game shows progress in creating chances and playing at the level we want.”

Maestre is pleased with the progress made on the training pitch, and believes the positive squad dynamic is reflected on the pitch:

“We are making progress in training every day. The players are improving physically, and their development is reflected in the way we train. Better training leads to better results, so I am happy with the progress.”

Comparison of the WSL and Liga F:

Having made the transition from coaching in Spain, to becoming a WSL manager, the head coach addressed the changes in demands and expectations:

“The WSL is more physical, and the gaps to exploit are smaller because teams defend more aggressively. Everything happens faster here, so the season is more demanding.”

London City Lionesses take on Brighton away on Sunday 1 February at Broadfield Stadium (11:55 AM KO).