Jocelyn Prêcheur has praised summer signing Freya Godfrey as a player with ‘many qualities.’ Godfrey returned to the match day squad for the first time this season against Liverpool on Sunday.
Prêcheur was speaking after his side had just picked up their second win of the season at home to Liverpool. In the end, an Elena Linari penalty was enough to put the game beyond their opponents in the WSL.
After the victory Prêcheur spoke to The Halfway Line about satisfaction in victory, Freya Godfrey and injury updates.
Jocelyn Prêcheur ‘satisfied’ with victory over Liverpool
London City Lionesses now have six points and sit in seventh in the table. A difficult start to the season has morphed into something more promising but Prêcheur will not let himself be carried away. The French head coach explained his feelings about the match.
“[I’m] Satisfied” Prêcheur affirmed. “Yes, [satisfied] about the result, [and] the performance in the second half, I know the game was not perfect.
“We still have many things we need to improve, but I prefer to focus on the positive thing, especially in the second half and especially in the state of mind.
“We show so much more confidence. And if we can keep going like this, we have many qualities to show. So yes, at that point it is satisfying.”
So what changed from the first half to make the second half so much better from a London City Lionesses perspective?
“No, yeah, two or three things we needed to fix during half time” he explained.
“Tactically speaking, things were not completely understood, and it was so much better [in the second half], especially with the position of our fullbacks, was so much better in second half.
“And the subs also made the difference. I think everyone made a good come in, and the comeback of Freya [Godfrey] also is very interesting for us. So now the second half is really satisfying.”
‘Week by week, she proved what she can do last season’ Prêcheur hails Godfrey talent
One of the biggest positives of the afternoon for London City was the return of Freya Godfrey. The former Arsenal youngster was one of the Lionesses best players last season and she came off the bench to offer an impressive cameo.
“First, this is a girl I really wanted to keep working with” Prêcheur explained. “Because when she arrived in January last season, I saw such a great potential.
“A profile, a modern profile for a forward and a striker, and more important, a girl, very disciplined, very professional, for such a young woman.
“So she had many qualities and step by step, week by week, she proved what she can do last season.
“Unfortunately, this preseason, she got injured, but now everything is fixed. She’s coming back. She’s a hard worker, and she’s a profile we don’t have at the moment.
So she can bring something else, like she did in the second half. And for for me and for the team, but for the team first, it’s a really good news.”
Prêcheur states he is ‘fortunate’ to have squad depth
Prêcheur also provided an injury update for the team. While noting that the rehabilitation of Teyah Goldie, Poppy Pattinson, Maddi Wilde and Corrine Henson is going well, he had more specific updates on certain Dutch stars.
“Daniëlle (van de Donk) started to run now” Prêcheur smiled.
“So yesterday, when I saw (her) running so fast like this, (I thought) we can be optimistic for a quick return. But of course, we need to respect (this is) a different step.
“Isa Kardinaal should return at the end of this month or beginning of the next one.”
There was a heavy collision late on as Liverpool goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe brought down Nikita Parris who was subbed off shortly after.
“The decision [to take off Parris] was made before the subs” Prêcheur explained.
“She would have kept going if we missed this penalty, but if, if we score, we decided to, don’t take any risk with her ankle.
“I’m very fortunate, because I have very good players on the bench and with different profiles, who can come in.
“We decided, without considering the feedback of the medical team, if we score this penalty, we make the sub and we bring one more defensive player to save the result.”
