It is safe to say Viviane Asseyi was counting down the days until she got to reunite with her West Ham United women’s team, yearning to return to training and get the hard work underway ahead of another Barclays Women’s Super League season.
After her best campaign in Claret and Blue, in which she netted 13 goals and contributed seven assists across all competitions, Asseyi enjoyed some well-earned time off - basking in the sunshine in on the Greek island of Crete, before returning to the motherland to see her family in France.
Hammer of the Year Asseyi enjoyed her time away, as it gave her the chance to reflect on a successful third campaign at West Ham. But football never escaped her during her two-month break from Chadwell Heath, as she drove around with a ball in the boot of her car at all times - even purchasing new ones while on holiday.
In fact, no-one was more relieved to see Asseyi return to training than her Mum. Our No20 would juggle her football in the house while her mother cooked dinner, stressing her daughter was going to break something… for the second time.
So, having not brought the sunshine back from Greece, in came Asseyi on Monday - wearing a large smile as she returned to east London, sunglasses on in the pouring rain.
The 31-year-old took some time out of her medical testing to speak about her first day back at Chadwell Heath, outlining the hunger in her and Rehanne Skinner’s side ahead of the new campaign.
Vivi, welcome back! How does it feel to be back at Chadwell Heath?
“It feels good, even if it's a lot of more testing than playing football! But it's good to be in the new training kit, see all the girls, all the staff. Everything is really good.”
How was your summer, what did you get up to?
“It was good. I was in Crete with my family and I also went home to the south of France, so it was good. It was so hot in Crete, I went in June but it was already hot! There was good food, the people were nice, nice beach, nice view - all you need to take a rest outside of football.”
No doubt the work continued over the summer?
“Yeah, of course! We have Jesús [Mateo Cortés] (Head of Fitness and Rehab). We have the GPS on with us [whenever we're working over the summer], so don't worry! We have to run, but even for yourself it's good to keep working because the break was really long.
“It was good to go on holiday, but all I wanted to do was play football. I'm crazy, I love football, it's just the thing that I love to do in my life. I put my ball in my car so I can play anywhere, anytime. Even on holidays I buy a ball. It was good on holiday but, I said to Rehanne [Skinner], for me I just want to come back to the field, work and play football.”
Did you take your ball everywhere with you?
“Everywhere! But I would say that sometimes when I was at home with my mum, she hated it! She would cook and I'm there juggling the ball. She was afraid that I would break something because I've already broken something before!”
What have you been up to on the first day back?
“All the testing for the body: the head, concussion, everything. Tomorrow we will be ready to be back on the field. I just want to be out [on the pitch]!”
Today you met Sarah Brasero and the new Professional Game Academy players.
“When you arrive here it's like a family. Everyone welcomes you straight away, and that’s the spirit of the whole Club. You see it with the boys, everyone in the kitchen, everyone is like this. So it's good that all of us welcome the [new] girls.”
There were a lot of positives to take from last season, for the team and yourself - you got Hammer of the Year! How do you look back on 2024/25?
“All the time I question myself, but on holiday I do it more because you have more time. You are with the family, so they can give you points, as can your close friends.
“I was so happy to be voted Hammer of the Year because when I play, all I want to do is make the fans happy. When I was a kid going to games, and even now, I just want to see good football. All I want is for the fans to enjoy it.
“I also got the title because of the girls, the staff and all the work that people don't see. Because to play good football you have to be with, of course, good players in training and in the games, and also good staff.
“I was really happy with that, but I wasn't happy where we finished because I think we deserved a lot more. But this league is, for me, the best one and when you make mistakes, you pay directly. Sometimes mistakes are good because you can work on it.
“Now it's a new season, the league is more competitive, so we know where to work. It’s good to get to work with the new girls, and work to be better than last year because I think we really deserved better things.”
It's the first day back, but do you have any goals for the season, for you and for the team?
“For the team, to be better. We deserve better, but to have that you need to work more and more every day. I know that we will do that.
“For myself, I don't have limits, so I just want to do better than last year. I have my standard of last year and I just want to be better than that.”
