Bott: Key To Get Minutes Under Our Belts
- LCFC Women faced Bristol City in pre-season on Saturday afternoon
- The friendly at Belvoir Drive was the Foxes’ second game ahead of 2022/23
- CJ Bott gives her thoughts on City’s preparations for the new WSL campaign
- Building up fitness is the main focus at the this stage of the summer, she adds
The New Zealander, who was limited to two substitute appearances last term due to injury after joining in March, revealed it felt good to put the boots back on and be involved from the off, as she was against OH Leuven on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old told LCFC.com after full-time: "It was definitely good to get another runout on the pitch after having quite a bit of time out myself personally and then obviously as a team as well.
"It's nice to start building up the minutes again. We've still got a lot of work to do, but it's good to iron out a few things and see what we need to work on, for sure. We had a good time out so it’s nice to get a few minutes under the belt.”
The Robins were 1-0 winners at Belvoir Drive on Saturday afternoon, but Leicester’s concentration at this stage is very much on the fitness element of pre-season, as they work towards a second successive Barclays Women’s Super League campaign.
“Obviously you go into every game wanting to win," Bott explained. "We’re all built to feel that way and work that way, but it’s not a focus for us at the moment. We are, for sure, just looking to get our fitness up and iron out a few things to see what works best for us.
“We know what we’re working on, so that’s what we are focusing on, as opposed to the results. We were definitely unfortunate not to get that, but it’s not our focus right now.”
Southampton present the latest challenge of the pre-season, with the Barclays Women’s Championship side up next for City as part of a lengthy preparation time ahead of the new WSL campaign, which begins away to Everton on Sunday 11 September (1pm BST kick-off).
“It’s a long pre-season but we need it,” she added. “We’re very much happy to have that, we’re definitely keen to get as many games under our belt as possible and then the better it is for our chemistry, which will keep building.
“And to see what works best, get as much experience with the new team as possible, so we’re in the best shape going into the season. It’s looking better, just from the last game to this game. We’re excited to have a new challenge and we’ve got such a good group this season.”