Why Mid-table Safety For Newcomers London City Wouldn't Satisfy Asllani

Cobdown Park, nan training crushed of recently promoted Women's Super League broadside London City Lionesses, is simply a building tract for now.

A ample area of ungraded stands wherever a caller transportation is to beryllium laid - diggers sitting down 1 extremity - and location are impermanent cabins opinionated successful for nine offices.

Lionesses, promoted to nan WSL for nan first clip this season, are nan first afloat independent broadside – not affiliated pinch a men's nine aliases different organisation – successful nan competition's history.

But their captain, Kosovare Asllani, is successful nary temper to hold for top-flight success.

"Personally I would not beryllium happy for america to beryllium a mid-table squad astatine nan extremity of nan season," nan Sweden world tells BBC Sport. "A bully play would beryllium apical four."

This reflects nan ambition that is nan defining trait astatine Cobdown Park.

Lionesses moved into their 28-acre guidelines successful Ditton past summer, pinch nan volition of turning it into a centre of excellence for women's and girls' football.

Their attempts to break into nan precocious echelons of nan crippled took disconnected successful December 2023 erstwhile they were taken complete by American businesswoman Michele Kang. Last summertime they signed Asllani, now 36, who has much than 200 caps for Sweden and won nan WSL pinch Manchester City successful 2016.

Asllani and nan Lionesses won nan second-tier title past play – secured connected nan last time pinch a 2-2 tie astatine second-place Birmingham City – and she will lead them into their maiden WSL campaign, which starts distant to Champions League holders Arsenal astatine Emirates Stadium connected 6 September.

The guardant is still an usability astatine nan highest level – she was Sweden's skipper astatine Euro 2025, scoring nan opener against England successful their quarter-final.

And while she is realistic astir nan situation of breaking nan established WSL order, she will only settee for nan very best.

"It would beryllium acceptable and possibly realistic," she says erstwhile asked if a mid-table decorativeness would correspond a successful season. "We are heading into possibly nan champion women's convention successful nan world.

"But from a individual constituent of view, you ever want to travel arsenic precocious arsenic possible. It would beryllium against each my principles to opportunity I would beryllium happy pinch mid-table."

Breaking into nan apical extremity of nan WSL is an tremendous task. From 2015 to nan coming day, only 4 clubs – Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City – person vanished among nan apical three.

For astir promoted clubs, endurance is nan goal. In nan past 2 seasons, nan sides who person travel up from nan Women's Championship – Bristol City successful 2023-24, Crystal Palace past twelvemonth – person gone consecutive backmost down.

But Lionesses consciousness different.

"We are penning history and want to continue," says Asllani.

Certainly they are putting successful nan money needed to debar a relegation fight. As good arsenic nan caller training facilities, 12 players person been signed this summer.

These see knowledgeable internationals for illustration England guardant Nikita Parris and midfielder Danielle van de Donk of nan Netherlands, positive Elena Linari – nan Italian centre-back named successful nan Euro 2025 squad of nan tournament.

"I was backmost for 2 weeks aft nan Euros and I met a caller subordinate each day," says Asllani pinch a laugh. "But I've learned everyone's names.

"It is simply a situation to get everyone connected nan aforesaid page, but that is what we are moving towards."

The Arsenal fixture will beryllium Asllani's first WSL crippled successful much than 8 years, aft she near Manchester City successful August 2017.

Since then, England person won 2 European Championships and nan look of nan women's crippled has changed almost unrecognisably.

"England winning nan Euros successful 2022 – I can't opportunity that was astonishing because I'm Swedish and they hit america successful nan semi-finals - made an echo successful this country. It was a breakthrough," Asllani says.

"I've spoken astir this pinch a batch of players – if different state had won, you would not spot that overmuch quality successful nan building of women's football.

"But successful England you spot it, it raised interest, it made an impact, and nan players are treated nan measurement they merit - for illustration nan men.

"I emotion that Arsenal are playing astatine nan Emirates, that's astonishing for women's shot successful England. Playing our first WSL crippled there, it will beryllium a historical day."

With important levels of finance comes pressure. And contempt Asllani's eager words, it would beryllium singular if they could situation nan established WSL bid successful their debut campaign.

But, conscionable arsenic they are building a caller training ground, they are building that challenge.

"We are a marque caller team, building from scratch," says Asllani. "We are building nan location and we are adjacent to building nan roof.

"We are not astatine nan level of Arsenal aliases Chelsea – yet."