In a wide-ranging interview, our Director of Football has discussed City’s incredible start to the new campaign among an array of topics.
England internationals Mead and Charles were brought in from Arsenal and Chelsea respectively early in the window and have each made a significant contribution to that success.
Their ability and reputation at the top of the game precedes itself, but Sjögran has also emphasised the key impact they’ve made off the pitch so far.
Speaking about Mead and Charles, she said: “First of all, [they are] amazing players. And also, during the period when we were trying to sign to get to know them, [they were] really good people as well. So, for me, there was no hesitation or anything.
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“Beth came on a free, and to get her into this environment with the personality she has, has been amazing.
“She brings a lot just by being the person she is. And of course she’s a great footballer as well.
“With Niamh, we identified we needed a left-back because Leila [Ouahabi] left. So, we identified her very early when we knew we wanted to have a change in that position.
“So it was important for us to get her from Chelsea, and I think she has adapted really well.
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“She’s a natural leader for me. She doesn’t need the armband, she’s a leader anyway. Both of them have settled in really well. I’m very happy that we could sign them.
“Of course, we look at quality, but we also look to have the best people in here. So, I think they tick every box that we wanted and also what they deliver on the pitch.”
City also welcomed Germany international Carlotta Wamser and England stopper Anna Moorhouse through the door in the final days of the summer window, with the former joining on a permanent deal from Bayer Leverkusen and the latter on a short-term loan from Orlando Pride.
On Wamser, Sjögran admits she was a player the Club had our eye on for a while, but when injuries to key players occurred during pre-season, attempts to recruit her intensified.
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The full-back has certainly hit the ground running, with our Director of Football delighted by her swift adaptation so far.
She added: “[Carlotta] Wamser is a player we have watched a lot, and it was quite late in the window, but we also got some injuries in those positions.
“We maybe wanted to sign Wamser in the future but then we said, okay let’s try now.
“We’re very happy that she chose us, [because] I know there was a lot of interest in her, but she has been amazing since she came in.
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“She’s adapting very quickly, I really like how she plays, the urgency and the commitment, the loyalty in such a short period of time. She’s been great.
“It’s not often you see that in a young player so quickly, but I think because of the injury we got on [Rebecca] Knaak, for example, she had to, in a way, play early.
“So, there was no time for her to adapt really but she just took it on. And what she’s giving us at the moment is crazy for the time she’s been here and also her age.”
Moorhouse, meanwhile, has provided crucial competition for places in the City squad after joining on deadline day from Orlando Pride.
And while she’s still waiting to make her first appearance for the Club, Sjögran has been impressed by what she’s already contributing.
“We were struggling a little bit on the goalkeeper side. We had Yama [Ayaka Yamashita] and Eartha [Cumings], we lost Khiara [Keating],” our Director of Football added.
“So, we tried to do something, but then this opportunity came up [to sign Moorhouse]. And also, to have an English goalkeeper, it’s important, I think.
“For us to be able to have Anna here now, it’s great. And she also got called up for the national team. She’s a great goalkeeper and I think she adds a lot to what we already have.”
