Jeglertz determined to install a “winning mentality” at Manchester City | OneFootball

Andrée Jeglertz is set to make his Women’s Super League debut as Manchester City’s new head coach. The Swede spoke to the media ahead of City’s season opener against reigning champions Chelsea.

“[I am] really looking forward to it [WSL debut]. It’s been a really intense five weeks, but we have done everything we were supposed to do. We are well prepared and definitely ready for Friday.

“But at the same time, I know that a lot of players came in a little bit later, so we are still building. Just looking at today’s training session, the players are 100% prepared for the game on Friday.”

On team news, he said, “The squad is fine. We don’t know with some players, but in general, we have a very strong team on the field on Friday.”

Facing Chelsea in the season opener might be the toughest start imaginable, but it’s also a huge opportunity.

“[Facing Chelsea] is the biggest opportunity, it’s common knowledge that facing the team that has won the league six years in a row, it gives us a good hint of where we are [as a squad],” said Jeglertz.

“We think that we are ready, and going to play that game, is a great opportunity to see what level the best team [of the league] has been on, and where we are right now. It gives us guidance, this is where we are, and this is what we need to do.”

Jeglertz mentioned the differences in pre-season and the differences between managing in Sweden and managing in England.

“In Sweden, we have pre-season for three months; here we only had five or six weeks, so it’s different. But at the same time, I have done my job before and analysed the players, and what I think is the most important thing to start with. I’m not here to revolutionise Manchester City; it’s about building on where we stand.

“We have great players and a very good base. My job now is to see how we can tweak it a little bit, how we can optimise the players?”

City have had some excellent results in their pre-season games, and are looking to build on that.

“Everything is about playing games, because that is where you are measured. For us, it was important to see all players in a game model. The [pre-season] games were crucial and gave us good answers on what we need to bring with us,” said the head coach.

Last season was the first time two teams met five times throughout the season; City and Chelsea were the ones to do so.

“I have quite a clear picture of those games, I analysed them and watched the footage. The team today is different, but I can definitely learn from what they did well in those games and the challenges.”

The team boasts a squad of experienced players who have been playing in the league for years.

“They have helped me just by getting into realising what level we are starting on. For me, the key is to come in and start building from where we are, rather than starting from the beginning.

“I want to get the maximum out of each player and help them realise how I envision the team being formed and how I want them to play. Learning the league will take them to grow into, I will need some games for that.

“I want to create a winning mentality at Manchester City, that is one of my main tasks. I want every player, when they stop onto the pitch, to have a strong belief that we can win, that is something that we should build on. We have the capacity to build that.”

The season opener kicks off at 19:30 GMT [20:30 CET] on Friday 5 September at Stamford Bridge with City looking to cause an early upset this season.