‘Enjoying Pre-Season’ – Siemsen Looks To A Fresh Start
- LCFC Women are currently in pre-season training ahead of 2023/24
- The Foxes are working towards their third campaign in the top-flight
- Leicester face Bristol City on the opening day of the Barclays Women’s Super League season
- There is a good vibe around Belvoir Drive, says Remy Siemsen
The 2023/24 campaign is just one month away now for Leicester, who travel to Bristol City in round one of the WSL at Ashton Gate, as they look to build on their 10th placed finish last term.
With five new faces through the door at Belvoir Drive, along with Janina Leitzig and Courtney Nevin who made their move to the east Midlands permanent this summer, striker Siemsen is itching to get going in what she hopes will be an improved season.
“It’s going really well,” she told LCFC.com this week. “We’ve got a lot of new faces in the squad and I think they’ve brought in lots of energy. They’re great people as well as great players. It’s been good to see some familiar faces, and some new ones.
“Pre-season has been really fun and enjoyable, which most people don’t say! But it’s been good to be back in and we’re being pushed to be ready for the new season.
“It’s been a good vide around here, and everyone has enjoyed coming back in. People have still been coming back from the FIFA Women's World Cup, but I feel good about the upcoming season and the group that we have.”
Every area of the pitch has been reinforced these past few weeks, with the additions of Lena Petermann and Jutta Rantala in the forward spaces, but the Australian is motivated by the friendly competition and believes it is good for the team.
“Willie Kirk has recruited really well,” she continued. “The competition is healthy to have in the squad and that’s just driving the intensity up and preparing us for the new season.
“We’re doing phases, and working on different principles week to week, so it’s been very in depth. We’ve been working hard, and the coaches have been doing well to prepare us physically and mentally.
“We’ve had some pre-season fixtures and two very good results, which we’ve been taking in our strides so hopefully we can just keep that going.”
The former Sydney FC player went on to talk about the positive impact that the recent Women’s World Cup had on the sport, and that she hopes the energy towards the women’s game will only grow.
Although she didn’t make the final squad, she was always there to support the Matildas, and believes they did their country proud, as they were eventually knocked out by England in the semi-finals.
Siemsen added: “Coming back from the Women’s World Cup camp, where I was unfortunately not selected, I told myself that I wanted to have a great season and be successful and hopefully find the back of the net more often.
“We’ve got a lot of players who can bring experience, talent, and flair to the side, so I just want to create connections on the field and the main objective for me is to score goals and hopefully I can help this team be successful in any way that I can.
“It was amazing just to watch as a spectator, but to be in and around the environment as well was great. I’m so proud of the girls, as is the whole of Australia. It leaves women’s football in such a great place in our country and worldwide.
“It was a huge tournament, not just for Australia but everyone competing, as there were some big results, showing how competitive women’s football is becoming. It was very exciting to watch, and I’m proud of how Australia did.
“The World Cup pulled in some amazing crowds and to see the support for the women’s game grow as much as it has is amazing to be part of. If we can keep growing, then it will only help women’s football and the future looks exciting."
Last season, the Foxes had to wait until January before seeing their first points, which led to them achieving safety on the final day of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion in extraordinary fashion, with Ava Baker netting the crucial goal.
Determined to improve on last season, Siemsen states how much effort is going in to the team to ensure that City come out of the traps flying, starting with the opening game at Ashton Gate.
“Everything is pretty focused on the first game,” the 23-year-old explained. “We want to start off on the right foot and we know how important it is to grab points in this league. It’s a new season with new players and we’re feeling equipped and prepared to get going.
“I came in halfway through the season last year, so it took me a while to get into the team, but now I’m here and injury free, it’s nice to be involved, get the comradery with the team and push on.
“We’re going to have a good season as a club, and I have full belief in our abilities to finish higher this season – I’m very excited and I just want to get started.”