Alisha Lehmann to show no mercy to GIRLFRIEND Ramona Bachmann as West Ham take on Chelsea
ALISHA LEHMANN is relishing the chance of beating her girlfriend’s team Chelsea for the first time ever today.
The West Ham striker will face off with Blues forward Ramona Bachmann for their first Women’s Super League clash of the season.
The Swiss duo live together — but while they are lovers off the pitch, they are rivals on it.
West Ham have never beaten Chelsea since joining the top flight last season — but Lehmann is hoping for the bragging rights in their house this weekend.
The 20-year-old said: “I am not bothered about Chelsea succeeding. I don’t want them to do well. We want to beat them and show we are better.
“It would be such a big thing to beat Chelsea. We’ve had draws but never won. I really look forward to playing against them because they are so good and such a physical team.”
And Lehmann added: “There isn’t tension in our house before a game any more because we have played against each other lots of times.
“Now when we see each other before a match, we are excited and more relaxed because it’s fun. We like to joke around.
“We don’t have our breakfast separate, we relax and then we play the game and then it’s either OK or it isn’t.”
The pair met on the Swiss national team and are both regulars for their country — picking up 94 caps and 46 goals
between them.
Lehmann joined West Ham in the summer last year while Bachmann, 28, is in her third season with the Blues, having helped the club win the WSL and FA Cup in her first year.
And she scored both Chelsea goals in the couple’s first-ever meeting in the WSL last November.
Lehmann — known for her trademark false eyelashes — has stressed the importance of rejecting the stereotype of female footballers as ‘tomboys’.
When we see each other before a match, we are excited and more relaxed because it’s fun
Lehmann on playing against girlfriend Bachmann
The Swiss striker said: “I think a few years ago no one had this glamorous style and now everyone has fake nails and eyelashes.
“I think it’s important that everyone can express themselves how they want. It’s a good thing. Just be whatever type of woman you want to be.
“I would say to younger girls getting into football just be yourself, you don’t have to be a different version.
“Be true to yourself and do whatever you love.”
Lehmann grew up in a small town in Switzerland called Tagertschi, which has a population of just 400 people.
And this is where she first discovered her passion for football.
She is a proud Real Madrid fan and Cristiano Ronaldo is her biggest inspiration.
She added: “My thing before matches is to watch videos of Ronaldo, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe — they are idols for me.
“And when I walk out, I always touch the ground first with my right foot and for a post-match meal no English food. I’m joking. I will just have pasta or something.
“I love Cristiano Ronaldo, he is so dedicated. He works really hard and does everything to be the best. It’s not always only about talent, if you work hard you can be No 1.”
The Hammers won their last league game away to Brighton 3-1 with Lehmann getting on the scoresheet. But the youngster insists she is still finding her groove after undergoing ankle surgery in the summer.
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She said: “It was so good I could score again for myself to have that feeling and the performance gave us confidence.”
Chelsea travel to Rush Green today on a high after beating reigning champions Arsenal in their last match thanks to goals from Beth England and Maria Thorisdottir.
Blues wait on news about Anita Asante’s fitness as she picked up a knock against Crystal Palace. Erin Simon is still out for the Hammers after undergoing surgery on a knee issue.