Impetus’ Nathan Edwards was in Chelsea’s media conference today and heard the club’s General Manager Paul Green praise Lauren James highly ahead of her return to the LSV to face previous club Manchester United (4/11/22).
Above: Lauren James after scoring against Aston Villa last weekend. Chelsea General Manager Paul Green recognised her huge efforts this season when speaking to the media today. Photo: Justine Burch for Impetus.
Chelsea General Manager Paul Green says Chelsea are “seeing the real Lauren James” after the striker’s early season form has seen her called up to the England national team for the second time.
James scored her first two goals of the season, in Chelsea’s 3-1 victory against Aston Villa last weekend.
Shortly after the 21-year-old’s brace, Sarina Wiegman picked the youngster in her 25-women squad as the Lionesses prepare for friendlies against Japan and Norway.
Talking about James’ start to the season, Green said, “I think Lauren James had a tough season last year, coming here off the back of a lot of injuries she had with Manchester United.
“She may have had to play in certain games when she wasn’t 100 percent fit, and we had to do a lot of work off the pitch to get things right because she didn’t arrive fit and healthy.
“We had to take it slowly and I think we are reaping the rewards this season. The way she has started, even in preseason.
“She scored against Lyon and has taken that into the season. Her form has been really good and she has gotten into the senior England squad.
James made the switch from Manchester to west London last year and joined a Chelsea side that is stacked with attacking quality, which Green thinks will help her grow.
He said, “Last year was a learning curve for her and show her what it takes to be an elite professional.
“She is able to learn from some of the senior players we have, like Sam Kerr, Pernille Harder, and Millie Bright.
“We have a very experienced squad and I think she has absorbed all that information like any young player needs to do, and we are really seeing the real Lauren James and the quality she has.
“I think we are all excited to see what will come from her in the present and future.”
James will be looking to score in two consecutive games, something she is yet to manage in her Chelsea career when the Blues face her old side Manchester United on Sunday.
Green believes that their weekend opponents will be one of his side’s strongest challenges come to the end of the season.
The Chelsea general manager said, “There is a long way to go but Arsenal and United, as well as Manchester City.
“But it is no different to every year, where those same teams will be in and around the top and it is down to us to come out on top come the end of the season.
“It is going to be tough, but we are used to that. We are used to having a target on our back, as the reigning three-time WSL Champions, we are always going to be there to be shot at.
“We like the challenge and we will be going up to Manchester and trying to get the win that will leapfrog them in the table.
To hear the opposition view, Impetus’ Holly Wright was in Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner‘s media conference: https://impetusfootball.org/2022/11/06/skinner-on-uniteds-clash-with-chelsea-its-like-a-heavyweight-boxing-match/
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