Rita Guarino on why she wanted to add experience to West Ham squad

West Ham head coach Rita Guarino
Credit: Whufc.com

Rita Guarino is delighted that she has been able to add more experience to her West Ham United squad during this transfer window.

The Hammers are currently second from bottom in the Women’s Super League, and the head coach has added Ria Bose, Tuva Hansen and Ylinn Tennebo to her squad on a permanent basis, as well as Estelle Cascarino and Katie Zelem on loan.

I am very happy because we have more experienced players and so that’s [added to] the quality on the team,” she told SheKicks.net on Thursday afternoon.

On Tennebo – whose late grandfather was a West Ham supporter – she added: “It’s like a dream that she can realise, and we are very happy that she comes here, and because she fits very well with the value of the club, and she [is] a good quality player.”

However, West Ham have lost England defender Anouk Denton, who has moved to the NWSL with Bay FC.

And Guarino admitted that she had not had much time to work with the Lioness “because she departed too early!

I think that was sad for us, but a good opportunity for her to experience a different league, different environment.”

Rita Guarino: I need to discover London

Guarino was appointed just before Christmas, replacing Rehanne Skinner.

And she revealed that she had not had much time to explore her new home city, with her job keeping her too busy.

I have had no time, no, not yet, not yet, unfortunately, because I was very busy here in the sports centre, and so I was very busy, but I hope in the next week, so probably during the international break, that I have time to know better where I am because I don’t know yet!”

Asked what was on her wishlist, she replied: “Just to discover a part of London that I have never seen.

“I have been in London a couple of times previously, but maybe I need to discover different places!”

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About Carrie Dunn 655 Articles
Carrie Dunn is a women's football writer. Her book 'Unsuitable for Females' was shortlisted for Football Book of the Year at the 2023 Sports Book Awards, and more recently 'Woman Up' was nominated for the 2024 Vikki Orvice Award for Women's Sport Writing. Her newest book 'Flying the Flag: The Footballing Heroines of the Home Nations Who Made History Abroad' is out now.