I’ve got so many good memories of Australia, says Hemp

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Manchester City F.C.

·22 August 2024

I’ve got so many good memories of Australia, says Hemp

Lauren Hemp says she’s excited to create more memories in Australia after last summer’s World Cup.

Hemp was a key part of the Lionesses squad that finished runners-up in the 2023 tournament after an impressive run all the way to the final.

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Now she’s back with City as we undergo a two-match pre-season tour ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Gareth Taylor’s side will face Leicester City at 11:15 (UK) on Wednesday 28 August at HBF Park in Perth, before playing either West Ham United or Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday 1 September.

Both matches will be available to watch globally on mancity.com and our official app with an active CITY+ subscription.

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Having landed on Wednesday, Hemp is excited to spend almost two weeks experiencing Australian life.

“I really enjoyed my time in Australia last year,” said Hemp.

“We got to the final and would have liked to have gone one step further but I have so many good memories of being here.

“We got to play Australia, which was nice because the crowd there was different to any other crowd I’ve witnessed before.

“Hopefully there will be a lot of them fans coming out to watch us in the upcoming games. To be able to experience the culture and the lifestyle as well was special.

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With just under a week to go until City’s first assignment in the Perth International Football Cup, Hemp is ready to give it her all.

While the England winger feels victory against our fellow Barclays Women’s Super League side on Wednesday, she feels there are plenty of other factors that would make the trip a successful one.

“You never go into a game not looking to win,” said Hemp.

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“The win is our priority but it’s all about the performance, working together as a squad, building the connections having not seen each other in a while.

“A lot of us haven’t played a game in forever, so every chance we get to have minutes in the legs will help us to be ready for the start of the season. Wins here would mean we’re starting as we mean to go on.”

The tour is the first time the vast majority of Gareth Taylor’s squad have been together since the end of last season.

We won 15 of our last 16 games in last year’s WSL, eventually being pipped to the title on the final day.

Hemp says that frustration has inspired the team to give their all in the hunt for silverware in 2024/25.

“I signed for Man City because I want to win trophies and we didn’t do that last season. That has just made us even hungrier to want to win more,” Hemp said.

WATCH: Watch: City Women’s 2023/24 season review

“We’ve got the chance to win four trophies this season but we’ve got to put in the groundwork to be in the best possible position to win trophies.

“That all starts with getting a good week of prep in.”

It’s been a busy summer at the Club, with six players arriving and six senior players moving on.

Most of those have trained with Taylor’s team in the early weeks of pre-season, while Japanese internationals Aoba Fujino and Ayaka Yamashita have trained with their team-mates for the first time upon arrival in Perth.