Grace Geyoro adapting, Delphine Cascarino sidelined as Michele Kang and London City Lionesses find WSL footing | OneFootball

London City Lionesses are holding their own in a debut WSL campaign, mid-table and still shaping an ambitious project.

A 16-player summer rebuild brought Grace Geyoro and Jana Fernandez, a three-time Champions League winner. After 16 games they are sixth, 10 points from Leicester in 12th and Tottenham in fifth. Eder Maestre, the new head coach, said Delphine Cascarino, a January arrival, will be out for several weeks.

The season has been bumpier than planned. Promotion coach Jocelyn Prêcheur was dismissed in December as a new cycle was sought, with the team sixth at the time.

Against the elite, results have stalled. Out of all cups, City have only one win against the top five, 4-2 over Tottenham, and six defeats.

Record signing Geyoro, at €1.65 million, is still waiting for her first goal. Daniëlle van de Donk missed the first half through injury, returned in January and scored in the cup exit to Spurs, 2-2 then 8-9 on penalties.

Nikita Parris is top scorer with five, while Elene Lete and Jana Fernandez have been among the most used. Captain Kosovare Asllani has 207 Sweden caps, vice-captain Saki Kumagai 164 for Japan.

With WSL expanding to 14 clubs next season and a play-off for the bottom side, a promoted team should not go down, and the Lionesses should avoid that fate.

Source: L'Équipe