‘Bring on the best’ is our Maya’s motto

The Brighton and Hove Albion starlet is still revelling in her team’s spectacular comeback before the Women’s Super League’s international break, where a marked low point swiftly transitioned to an all-time high.

One week they are losing 3-0 to bottom-table Bristol City, the next they are defeating leaders Chelsea 2-1 and ending their WSL record 33-game unbeaten run.

The Blues pack an impressive armoury of world-class players but Le Tissier feels that, far from being daunted by such class, such challenges are critical for her development.

‘I really enjoy it,’ the 18-year-old said.

‘That’s what you want to do when you’re a young player, to test yourself against the best players in the world. Obviously, Chelsea, all of their squad is unreal.

‘I love those games because there’s no pressure on me to do well. When you do well and the team does work, it’s a bonus.

‘I love testing myself to see where I am and what I can improve on to get to their level.’

The bigger picture behind those disparate results shows the situation in an even more impressive light.

Brighton boss Hope Powell publicly likened that Bristol loss to being sacked as England manager in 2013, and their last match beforehand was a 7-1 thumping from Manchester City.

But Powell then became the first female recipient of the League Managers’ Association Performance of the Week award for the Chelsea win, while her team then earned their first back-to-back WSL victories by beating West Ham 1-0.

Le Tissier termed those improved results ‘unreal’ after the hole they had found themselves in beforehand.

‘A bit of a low spell, which every team has, but it was not very nice to be in and it put a lot of pressure on the game,’ she said.

‘That week leading into the Chelsea game, we just needed to put things right. Bristol was unacceptable and we had to improve everything about it.

‘The performance against Chelsea was great – we were defending for most of the game, but if you can defend your goal and not really let any in, you’re going to win games and pick up points.

‘It was back to basics really, and to focus on what we’re good at… to get three points against Chelsea was really nice.’

Le Tissier added that beating West Ham, where she won player-of-the-match, was about backing up their Chelsea victory.

‘If you don’t beat West Ham after beating Chelsea, then you’re kind of still in the same place.’

But the young defender will not be resting on her laurels when they face Tottenham on Sunday next weekend.

The seventh-placed Seagulls hover one position above Spurs and are intent to avenge their 3-1 loss last time out.

‘I’m enjoying the sport at the moment and it obviously helps, gives you a lot of confidence going into games.

‘I just give my best for the team every game and put everything I’ve got on the pitch.

‘The players around me give me a lot of confidence and advice when I’m playing.

‘No game in this league is easy, and you can see that from the different results – from losing to the bottom team and then beating Chelsea at the top of the table.’