Kenza Dali has played for the two best women’s football teams in France, and the midfielder cannot see any reason why West Ham United should not reach the same level in the future.
Dali moved to the Hammers in the summer from Dijon, having previously played for reigning Champions League holders Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain, and is already relishing life in London with the Irons.
The 28-year-old can already spot several similarities between her new team and Lyon, a side that have won a record 17 league titles and six Champions Leagues and is excited for the opportunity to guide West Ham up the table.
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“I’ve played for Lyon and PSG and I think West Ham can reach that level, definitely,” Dali said in a revealing interview with the Official Women’s Matchday Programme, available at Sunday’s match between the Irons and Birmingham City.
“I signed here because I believe in West Ham. I believe in Matt, the staff and the girls. West Ham is not too different from Lyon in terms of the feel around the club. It’s so professional.
“We have everything we need to work hard and be the very best. We have people around us to help us be competitive and win. We have a great pitch, a gym, and new facilities.
“West Ham is new in women’s football but in France, there are some teams in the top league that have been playing for over ten years, and they don’t have what we have here.”
Dali feels like she has learned a lot already from her brief spell with West Ham. A large portion of that is down to the work of head coach Matt Beard, who the French international is loving working with.
The West Ham boss’ ability to turn a squad of players into a close-knit group of friends has not been lost on Dali, who already feels settled in her new home.
“Matt is amazing,” she continued. “I really trust him. I spoke about him with my family when I saw them last week and I told them that he is the first coach I’m really close with. I talk to him every day and he asks me how I’m feeling, how my family are, how I’m settling in. It’s so important for me.
“Matt has this amazing ability to make a team feel like a family. If I play with freedom, it’s because of him. He has told me I can express myself on the pitch for West Ham, which is perfect for a player like me. I came to West Ham to work with him. I trust in him so much.
“When I met him for the first time, it made my decision for me. His vision of football is how I look at football too. It’s really easy for me to play for Matt because he understands my game, which is the most important thing for me. I’ve learned so many things from him already.”
Kenza Dali dons the cover of the first issue of the new-look West Ham United women’s Official Matchday Programme.
Priced at just £2, the new women’s Matchday Programme offers exclusive interviews, entertaining insights into the team and eye-catching photographs for supporters to enjoy long after the final whistle.
Join us at Rush Green Stadium this Sunday to pick up your issue of our new-look women’s Official Matchday Programme!
