Robins need 'solid base' for promotion push - Losada

Vicky Losada moved to Bristol City this summer and was named captain by new head coach Charlotte Healy

Bristol City need to "create a solid base" to get the club back to the Women's Super League and enable them to stay there, says new captain Vicky Losada.

The second-tier side were taken over on Thursday by Mercury13, who also own Serie A Femminile side Como FC, with new investment expected.

The club have yo-yoed between the top tier and WSL 2 in the past decade, with three relegations - most recently in 2024 - and two promotions.

"The most important thing is to create a solid base and with Mercury13 we're going to be able to do that," Losada told BBC Radio Bristol.

"But it's also on us, on the players, on knowing what we do every day and not just getting promoted to then next year get relegated."

The former Spain midfielder joined Bristol City on a free transfer this summer following her departure from Brighton.

The 34-year-old arrived with a wealth of experience, having won the Women's Champions League with Barcelona in 2021, and has also played for Roma, Manchester City and Arsenal as well as being capped 65 times by her country.

Losada said the team need to be "realistic", following the takeover news, that change will not happen overnight.

"Our commitment is massive, talking about the girls, but we also need time," Losada said. "So many teams want to get promoted, it's not going to be easy.

"We need to look [at] this [as] a long-term investment. We need consistency, we need to do things well day by day and hopefully get promoted - and if it's not this year, I'm sure it will be next year."

City have won one and lost one in the WSL 2 so far this season and travel to Southampton on Sunday in their next match.

Midfielder Losada, who was named skipper for 2025-26 by new head coach Charlotte Healy, said she was enjoying her time at the club since the move.

"I'm so impressed with the training ground, the facilities, the city, the passion about sport," she added.

"What I love the most is the people in it - it's like a family and it's important when you spend so many hours of your day to be in a place where you feel loved, you feel comfortable, you feel safe."