We Need To Build Consistency, Says Bott
- CJ Bott previews LCFC Women's West Ham United fixture
- The Foxes travel to Chigwell Construction Stadium this weekend
- The Barclays Women’s Super League fixture kick-off at 3pm BST
- City’s right-back says the team must build consistency in their game
This year has seen Leicester achieve a new record-high points tally, as a fourth consecutive season in the WSL has already been confirmed, with Bristol City’s relegation to the second tier.
Stating that this campaign has been an improvement on last, the New Zealand international admits there is more to come from City, who have been their own worst enemy at times.
“It’s been a better season than last year,” Bott told the media. “We had a lot to work on from last season, and we’ve improved. We’ve not come on leap and bounds; it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster.
“We’ve had some pretty clear goals which are still achievable, but we’ve made it difficult for ourselves. We’ve played some incredible football and put in some performances which we’re proud of, but consistency has been an issue.
“We’ve conceded some late goals and lost a lot of points from our own mistakes, which is what we’re trying to work. So, some good parts this season, but much to build on.”
Going from a side whose main aim was to stay in the division to looking upwards, and reaching the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Semi-Final stages, shows the progress within the women’s department of the Club.
The right-back hopes that this season can be used as a platform to springboard to the next step, starting with a win this weekend.
“During the last season-and-a-half, we’ve come leaps and bounds and had a lot of growth,” Bott continued. “That’s what we want to continue building next year because we don’t like the 'little Leicester' saying.
“We know the goals we want to achieve and where the Club want to be, so if we can get a bit more consistency and keep battling against the top teams then we’ll be very different next season.”
The amount of international talent within the squad has risen this year and Bott goes on to explain the positive impact that certain players have had, both on the pitch, but also the influence that their character has on a daily basis.
“Players like Jutta [Rantala], Janice [Cayman] and Lena [Petermann] have added so much depth to the team,” the No.4 added. “We’re so grateful to have them with us this season, with the power they’ve added.
“It’s great to play with players from different nations with different style of play and you can see that we’re learning from them and hoping to grow as a team.
Approaching 50 appearances for the Foxes, Bott spoke during Friday’s press conference at Belvoir Drive about the growth of the WSL and what it means to play her part in one of the biggest leagues in the world.
“I love this league,” the 29-year-old voiced. “I love being a part of it. It’s a challenge but one that I enjoy. No game is ever easy, and I think I thrive in this type of environment.
“I want to stay a part of it and I’m excited for what’s to come. There’s been some incredible growth the past few years and being part of it has been great and I can’t what to see what’s to come next.”