Manager Carla Ward joined the club from rivals Birmingham City in 2021 and has taken the team on an upward trajectory since.
Alongside the club’s head of women’s football, Lee Billiard, Ward set out a three-year plan which centred around recruitment and a style of play.
A key part of Ward’s philosophy was making each player feel valued and she did that by connecting with them on a personal level.
“I always go back to that human element. If you ask any of the players, like Jordan Nobbs, I know why she signed and what her reasons are,” Ward said.
“They are not just footballers, they are people. I’m a far better manager than I am a football coach. I have coaches who can coach very well. My job is managing people.”
Having achieved what they had set out to do a year earlier than planned, Ward admits there is a new challenge this season which they have not yet faced – a target on their backs.
“We finished as the best of the rest, which is what everyone wants,” Ward said. “We know it comes with it. But the expectation from within is far greater than those on the outside and that’s the reality.
“[The squad] are all ambitious and always want to be better. We won’t be resting on the fact we finished fifth. The success last year wasn’t just a Leicester City winning the Premier League moment. It was a long three years of work and continuing to build in every transfer window.
“In each window we’ve replaced players going out of the door with ones pushing to play in the starting XI. That’s really important in terms of our strategy. We had a very clear plan and we are well on track with it.
“It’s why I never want to get carried away because we are on a journey and if we can continue to develop then of course, top four, sooner or later, will be in sight.”