Stuart Weston believes Charlton are ready for the forthcoming Premier League season, which starts for them on Sunday at Sporting Club Thamesmead against West Ham United.
By David Brenchley
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The Addicks go into the match off the back of an impressive 5-1 win over Portuguese top division side A Dos Francos, rounding off a perfect pre-season campaign.
He said: “I couldn’t have asked for any more from that game – I came away thinking they are ready.
“Everything we’ve been working on has clicked and they are ready for the season, it’s almost perfect that the season starts in Sunday.
“To come off a win like that and going straight into the season is great preparation for the confidence of the girls and the morale.”
As well as having kept the core of last year’s squad, Charlton have made a few signings over the summer, including bringing Sam Pittuck back to the club.
Pittuck joined from Tottenham Hotspur, who she captained, is the Hammers’ all-time leading goal scorer and will hope to strike up a profitable partnership with former team mate Gemma Shepherd.
And Weston believes his side now has the quality and mentality to cause teams problems.
“The work ethic of the girls has been phenomenal,” he added. “Their fitness is probably higher than it was halfway through last season.
“Looking at the way they played in Portugal in the heat, they really didn’t struggle at all and I think a lot of that is down to the football they are playing. Rather than running their socks off they are using the football to play.
“If we can replicate the way we played in Portugal on Sunday then we have a great chance to have a good win because we were outstanding.”
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