Cho So-hyun is looking forward to coming up against a friend, and international colleague, in Ji So-yun when West Ham United visit Chelsea on Sunday.
Having both represented the Korea Republic since the mid-2000s, Cho is the current captain of the side and has the most caps for the international team, while Ji is the Taegeuk Nangja’s leading goalscorer.
With the two set to meet when the Hammers play the Blues in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League this weekend, Cho is wary of what her Korean compatriot can offer and the threat she offers for Chelsea.
“When I play against Chelsea, and Ji, I am always reminded by how amazing she is,” the midfielder told whufc.com. “I know that, of course, from being on international duty with her, but she has played at the top level for a very long time.
“She’s been with Chelsea for about six years now and she keeps getting better. She is a leader for that team and, personally, I always look forward to playing against her. As a team, we will need to be careful of what she can offer for them.”
Cho was one of a number of Hammers who worked intensely on the training fields at Chadwell Heath during the two-and-a-half-week international break, and the 32-year-old is feeling the benefits of her efforts.
As one of the side’s more experienced players, and as a national team captain, Cho says she has tried to help guide the younger players as they head into the final few matches of 2020.
Cho continued: “I’m feeling good, and we’re all feeling good after a strong week of training. With the players that stayed here during the international break, I’ve tried to lead a bit by example on the training pitches and work my hardest during the two-week break.
“We have a really big game on Sunday. We know Chelsea are a top team, but we still need to do our absolute best and try to get a positive result.”
Cho admits that the Hammers are not where they want to be in the Barclays FA WSL table at the moment but believes a strong performance against Chelsea, followed by the right results away to Bristol City and at home to Aston Villa, will have the Irons looking up the division in 2021.
“I think, right now, we’re not where we want to be in the table,” she added. “We want to be pushing into the middle pack and then trying to break into that top five group. And I think we have the quality to do it.
“If we get wins in these three games before the festive break, then we will be in a really good place going into the second half of the season.”
