Anna Leat

Anna Leat: Chelsea quarter-final is a big opportunity

Anna Leat believes Wednesday’s contest with Chelsea is a huge game in West Ham United’s season. 

West Ham United Women welcome the Blues to the Chigwell Construction Stadium on Wednesday evening in the quarter-finals of the Continental League Cup. 

The Hammers reached the semi-finals of the tournament last campaign, only to be eliminated by Chelsea in the final four, and Leat knows how big the midweek fixture is for Olli Harder’s side.

“Wednesday is a big game,” the 20-year-old told whufc.com “It will be a big one. It will be so full on. We’re all go at the moment and it’s exciting. We’re taking it as it comes but we’ve been training well. 

“We just need to process the game with Spurs, recover, get our nutrition in and get ourselves ready. It’s just about doing the right stuff before the game and then when the game is here.”

Leat is likely to start between the sticks for the Hammers after an impressive first outing in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League on Sunday, making a string of sensational saves to deny Tottenham Hotspur. 

The young goalkeeper was instrumental in the Irons leaving The Hive with a point, after Kate Longhurst’s late header.

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Having been with West Ham since the summer, Leat was delighted to make such an impression in her maiden league showing.

Reflecting on Sunday’s league outing, Leat said: “You can’t go home unhappy after a 92nd minute header from Kate, but it was honestly just really good to get out there.

“I felt really good. I’ve spent six months grinding away and now my time has come to step into that role. Obviously, I want to fill it and use It to grow as much as possible. 

“The Barclays FA Women’s Super League is something you watch on tele at home, and now I’m in it! It’s kind of just hitting me that it’s happened, but it’s awesome! It’s been so cool. 

“As a group, we’re so happy with where we’re at, and that game was the start of a pretty exciting second half of the season.”

 

Chelsea