Star veteran Asllani spearheading London City Lionesses' ambitious project

With experience of playing for the world's leading clubs, London City Lionesses are looking to the 36-year-old for inspiration in their debut WSL campaign

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The year is 2019. Real Madrid are starting out their women’s team and have identified a Swedish star to be the first Galactica of their project.

Five years later, Michele Kang is aiming to start a dynasty, a multi-club project in women’s football. She had identified a Swedish star as the pioneer of that project.

The player in question is Kosovare Asllani.

Asllani’s signing was a statement of intent for London City Lionesses – the first fully independent club to be promoted to the English top division. The club currently sit in sixth place with nine points and three wins from seven games.

The 35-year-old Swedish star is currently the joint leading goal contributor for Jocelyn Prêcheur's side in the WSL with two goals and one assist. She scored the club’s first goal in the WSL, etching her name in their folklore.

So what makes Asllani such a special player?

In possession

Prêcheur has used a back three and back four system at London City Lionesses, utilizing a two pronged attack in most cases. His 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 system has seen Asllani as a part of the front two or in the hole behind the striker. The Swedish captain has been handed a free role in this system, taking up positions to create micro-advantages all over the field.

You will find Asllani at the edge of both boxes often within seconds of each other. In the sequence above, we see her supporting the build-up by dropping deep in her own defensive third. She isn’t a controller or progressor from deep, but is excellent at accelerating play forwards with quick combinations and vertical passes.