“95 minutes of joy in every game!” promises Prêcheur

Having just signed Grace Geyoro from his former club, PSG, the London City Lionesses head coach, Jocelyn Prêcheur is understandably perky. They’ve been talking throughout the summer to make the deal happen and bring her to Bromley, so he’s not bothered about the huge transfer fee. In fact, he describes Geyoro as both underestimated and “one of the best players on the planet”, and explains that she’s not only technically and physically wonderful, but he also wanted her for what she brings to the dressing room.

Most definitely excited about the imminent start to the season, Prêcheur spoke about his ambitions and not being bothered about the pressure. We spoke to him the day before LCL made their WSL debut, sporting new sponsorship from TOGETHXR on their shirts (and we definitely approve of the message that ‘Everyone Watches Women’s Sports’!) as they travel over the river to play Arsenal at the Emirates.

Could you tell us a little more how you’re going to play, and if you’ll have a different system depending on who you’re playing or are you going to play the London City Lionesses’ way?

This is something I have told since the beginning, I have clearly identified the game project.

I’m someone who likes to have the ball and someone who likes to attack and to develop an attractive way of play, because we also need to convince as a fan to follow our team and enjoy, be sure we can give 95 minutes of joy in every game.

It’s easy to say, how to do, but this is why one more time this project is so exciting, challenging on one side, but very exciting and motivating on the other side.

Something special is happening at the moment in London City. We follow a different way as an independent club.

And my question is, what about creating something also special on the pitch? The way we play and this is what I want to create. I know it’s tough, it will take time, as I said before, but this is the road I want to follow.

You’ve said you don’t get that involved in the actual transfers. So how does the structure work between you and [club owner] Michele Kang? Who is sorting all the transfers out?

We have, for me, a traditional way of working. There was a similar way in France or Spain or Italy. We have the coaching on one side and the sporting direction on the other side.

So of course we talk a lot and I’m very often consulted about the need of the team and the player we want to sign for sure. But not being the final decision maker is not a problem for me. Absolutely not.

It doesn’t change the fact Michele is also very available for my needs, for the needs of the staff, also for the structure. So we talk a lot.

In London [City Lionesses] it’s teamwork. It’s not only the manager on one side. We have a lot of people in the media side, also in the business side to develop the club.

Also, it was important to create a recruitment cell, what we did, the sporting direction. We also have the support of the group, so it’s really a collective work.

I think it’s necessary to have this, If we want to develop and create the club, Michele wants us to create.