De Graaf: The Whole Team Is Really Excited

- LCFC Women's FA Women's Championship campaign begins against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday
- New signing Esmee de Graaf is excited to get started at the Club
- The Netherlands international has pointed to the quality which has been added to the squad

The 2020/21 campaign gets underway on Sunday with the visit of Blackburn Rovers to Farley Way Stadium (2pm kick-off) after a sixth-placed finish in the table last term.

Boosted by several new arrivals, including De Graaf herself, there is an ambition among LCFC Women that they can compete in the upper reaches of the Championship this time.

Speaking to LCFC TV earlier this month, De Graaf, a full Netherlands international formerly of West Ham United Women, explained the basis of that confidence among the squad.

"I think the whole team is really excited," she said. "We've got a great environment to develop ourselves. Everyone's really excited and we can't wait until the season is going to start.

"It's nice to win. It's nice to get the first three points. The ambition is to win the league and go up the Women's Super League, so it's going to be a good one."

The quality of LCFC Women's squad, combined with an eagerness to start the new season after an elongated break, is another source of excitement for De Graaf.

The 23-year-old has experience of playing in the Women's Super League - the top level of the game - and she is eager to see the Foxes compete in the highest tier.

"We're quite confident because I think we've got a good squad," she added. "We can really compete with the best and I think we have a good chance to win the league.

"We can't wait because, obviously, through COVID-19, we were out for months with no playing football. The season is finally going to start again in a few weeks."

All times BST.