Rita Guarino: What can we expect from West Ham under the new coach?

Guarino’s start at West Ham couldn’t be any tougher when they visit defending champions Chelsea on Sunday (12:00 GMT).

But the Italian insists that she is “not focused” on the opponent and does not expect her team to change overnight.

“We talked about some principles, but the time we spent with the team was very short, so we couldn’t train everything,” Guarino added.

“In this game, I want to see and see how we execute the work we did this week.

“Every minute of training I can see players who want to improve and fight for this shirt. We try every second to do our best.”

Guarino’s teams are known for their aggression off the ball and well-organised approach.

She has mostly played in a traditional 4-4-2 and knows what it takes to win major trophies, and she has done so consistently with Juventus.

But while others expect a new style, Guarino insists she has no specific philosophy and will seek to get the best out of the players’ strengths.

“I don’t really think about my playing style,” Guarino said. “The style my team shows on the field depends on their characteristics, skills and potential.”

“I’m very focused on the style we can show with the players I have. I think there is more strength in the game here.

“The play is much faster than in Italy. That’s the main difference. In the Premier League you also have teams with high-level, high-quality players.”