Matchday nine of the Barclays Women’s Super League season gets underway on Saturday lunchtime as champions Manchester City face 10th-place West Ham at the Joie Stadium.

City are neck and neck with top-of-the-table Chelsea going into this weekend's round of fixtures, with only goal difference separating the last two sets of champions.

The Sky Blues weren’t at their fluent best last Sunday, but still found a way to leave the Copper Jax Community Stadium with all three points as they defeated London City Lionesses 2-1 thanks to goals from Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp.

Finding a way to win

Speaking to the media in his pre-match press conference, City boss Andreé Jeglertz highlighted how his side have different ways to win football matches.

He said: “We learned a lot of things, I think we already knew that we have different ways of winning games. We’ve done that a couple of times, that no matter what happens in a game we have different tools in our box to win games. We knew that before and we showed it again, and we also learned that playing three games a week is challenging. I also felt that a little bit in this game that we lacked a little bit of energy that is needed.

“On the other hand, we also put in all the work we could. All the effort from the players was amazing, so I’m very proud of that, but this is challenging. We played three very tough games last week and I think we could see that a little bit also in the game.”

Just in the Knaak of time

Defender Rebecca Knaak was crucial in Manchester City winning the WSL last campaign. With outstanding leadership, organisation skills, and defensive nous, the 30-year-old became somewhat of a cult hero with the City faithful, coming up with vital goals including the stoppage-time winner against Liverpool at the Joie back in May that left City on the brink of glory.

Injuries have hampered the German at the start of the season, but now she’s back and into the mix, Jeglertz was full of high praise as she’s picked up from where she left off.

He said: “She means a lot to us, she did it last year and the two games she’s played now she has shown what a great football player she is and also a great leader in the back line. She’s really coming on in a good way, she’s keeping the back line with the team compact, she’s defending the box in an amazing way. She was really showing her defensive qualities on the highest level.”

Confident West Ham

West Ham could pose a threat to City’s unbeaten league start when the two sides meet in East Manchester following a 4-1 home demolition of Liverpool last time out, and Andreé Jeglertz was keen to point out that the Hammers were going to ‘challenge’ his side.

He said: “The most important thing for a football team is confidence and of course they’re coming from a win last weekend which was impressive, it’s definitely a good team, we knew that before. We played them a couple of times last year and it was not easy games either, so it is a good team, we are a good team, so I expect an exciting game and a great opportunity for us to continue to win.

“I really think their attacking play is really threatening and they have some speed, they have power attacking-wise and they are very solid in the defending also. It’s a compact team, they’re working hard together. Rita Guarino is doing a good job with that team and taking them a step better than last year. Even more structured, but the individual qualities they have in a couple of players is definitely going to challenge us.”