LADIES' NEW SIGNING AIMING HIGH
Chelsea Ladies' latest acquisition Yuki Ogimi believes she can help Emma Hayes's side qualify for next season's Champions League.
The FA Women's Super League resumes on Sunday following a mid-season break, with the Blues playing host to Doncaster Rovers Belles, and Ogimi, who is in line to make her debut, is feeling positive following her move from German side Potsdam.
'It's different from where I trained in Germany, but my team-mates have been very welcoming and friendly so I have a good first impression of the club,' she explains. 'Hopefully I can play well and help the club achieve something special.
'It will be different from Germany because here you have to make quick decisions on the ball as I learnt from the first few training sessions.'
Ogimi, who will become the first Japanese player to ply her trade in the FA WSL, arrives at Chelsea with an abundance of quality and a wealth of experience.
The 26-year-old recently won her 100th international cap, and also has a World Cup winners' medal following Japan's success in the 2011 competition.
'As I am the first Japanese player to play in this country I'm obviously very proud,' she says. 'It's a new experience for me and I'm very much looking forward to it.
'Emma told me I have a lot of experience having played in the World Cup and Olympics, and I need to pass that on to the younger players. She's expecting me to score a lot of goals and also provide assists.
'I am good at finding my team-mates' strengths, I know where the goal is and I am flexible in terms of where I can play. I would like to help us qualify for the Champions League.'
Chelsea Ladies v Doncaster Rovers Belles takes place at Staines Town FC on Sunday 4 August, kick-off 2pm.
Image courtesy of Akio Hayakawa.