Khiara Keating on signing her Manchester City contract extension

NicheSportMedia

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00:00 So Kiara, congratulations, new deal to 2027, how does it feel?

00:04 Yeah, obviously it's a proud moment for me and my family,

00:07 obviously just staying at this great club, I think we've got so much more to give

00:10 and I'm just glad I can be here for an extra three years to contribute to the team.

00:14 What was it that convinced you that this was the right place to be

00:17 and that you wanted to extend your stay?

00:19 I mean, I don't think it was ever in question.

00:21 It's always been home since I was 11 and I feel like it's just an honour

00:26 to obviously be offered that contract extension.

00:28 So yeah, I don't think it was ever in doubt that I wasn't going to stay.

00:32 You're obviously still very early in your career,

00:34 but you've had a lot of senior minutes this year.

00:36 How important has that been for your development this season, do you feel?

00:40 Yeah, I think it's huge, obviously.

00:42 You only get better from when you're put in real-life situations of a game

00:45 and I think obviously Guys has put his faith in me

00:47 to start all the league games in the season.

00:50 So I feel like, yeah, it's just confidence building.

00:53 The more games I play, the more obviously I gain confidence

00:56 and yeah, we shall see what it brings.

00:58 Speaking of the manager, how important was he in your decision

01:01 to want to stay at the club?

01:03 Yeah, huge, obviously.

01:04 Guys putting his trust in me and me playing so much this season.

01:09 I don't think anyone expected it, but obviously he has a plan in his head

01:13 and I'm just glad that I'm part of it.

01:15 And obviously there's a lot of important people behind the scenes

01:17 in terms of coaching staff and also other players,

01:20 your fellow goalkeepers and senior players.

01:22 How important have they been in just supporting you

01:24 and helping you on your journey so far?

01:26 Yeah, I think they're so amazing.

01:28 I think this team, we've been tighter than ever than previous seasons.

01:31 I feel like it's just so much more homey

01:33 and you're so much more comfortable to be around each other

01:37 on and off the pitch.

01:38 I feel like when you have trust in a team, that's the main thing.

01:41 And I feel like this season, we do trust each other a lot

01:43 and I feel like we're going to get far.

01:45 Are there any key messages that you've been giving all the rest of the players

01:48 from the manager and coaching staff to help you through

01:51 these first few months of real regular senior minutes?

01:54 I think just do me, like I got to the position I am

01:58 just by being me and my attributes.

02:00 I feel like everyone has faith in you,

02:02 so just go out there and perform and do what you need to do.

02:06 Speaking of your attributes, obviously you've got so many,

02:08 but a real quality of yours is your ability on the ball

02:11 and your distribution.

02:12 Do you feel like that's something that's really valued at City?

02:15 So do you feel like that's something that suits your style

02:18 and the club's perfectly?

02:19 Yeah, I think obviously people come to City because the way we play football,

02:23 so I feel like my attributes and the way the team plays fit quite well.

02:27 But obviously it just depends on the game, whether we want to go long or short

02:30 and the guys' decision at the end of the day.

02:32 But yeah, I feel like I fit right in.

02:34 As you've mentioned, you've obviously come through the ranks at the club

02:37 from the youth team through to the senior.

02:39 Does that make it extra special for you to now be a regular

02:42 in the first team that you've really had to work your way through?

02:45 Yeah, I think it's always special to play, but knowing that you came

02:48 through the academy is special, and I think it shows all the girls

02:51 in the academy now that it is possible, even at such a young age.

02:54 And obviously you're not the only person in the team that's come through the ranks.

02:57 You've got the likes of Esme Morgan, Jess Park.

02:59 So between the three of you and many others, does that give you even more pride

03:02 that it's not just yourself, it's a real sort of value of the club to be,

03:06 to value youth and give them a chance?

03:08 Yeah, I think it just shows everything that City's about.

03:11 It puts trust in younger players and gives you the platform there

03:14 to go and succeed and do well.

03:16 We've got to talk about your England call-up recently.

03:18 I know it was something that you were very proud of.

03:20 It was fully deserved.

03:21 Can you just talk us through how that experience was with England recently?

03:25 Yeah, it was amazing.

03:26 The girls, the training, everything, the environment was just so good

03:30 to just be around and soak up all that experience.

03:33 I might not have gotten the pitch, but I feel like it wasn't like

03:36 I didn't go there with any expectations.

03:38 I was just soaking in everything.

03:39 Yeah, it was so good.

03:41 What did the rest of the City players have to say

03:43 when they found out that you'd got in the squad?

03:45 They were all just so buzzing.

03:47 It was like you deserved it.

03:48 I feel like it helped that they were there as well.

03:51 It felt a bit more like home than obviously just walking into

03:53 a brand new team, but yeah, it was good.

03:56 Absolutely, and it's a massive achievement for any player,

03:58 regardless of their age, but the fact that you've done it at 19,

04:01 it must be that evidence and reward for all the hard work

04:04 that you've been doing in the last few months to get that opportunity.

04:07 Yeah, I think I was more shocked, like me and my teammate Grace Clint.

04:11 I feel like we didn't expect it so soon,

04:14 but yeah, it was a special moment for everyone.

04:16 As you've mentioned already, this seems like a really tight-knit group at City.

04:20 Just how special is this team this year, do you feel?

04:23 Yeah, so good. I feel like just bringing in Gio, she's a big character,

04:26 but there wasn't that much movement, whereas last season there was so much.

04:30 But I feel like, yeah, we're just so close on and off the pitch.

04:33 You're a very popular member of the squad as well, from speaking to players.

04:37 They often say you're the funny one as well.

04:39 Are there any players that you particularly like playing pranks on

04:42 or with or anyone like that?

04:44 Yeah, me and Ruby are double trouble, I'd say, together a bit.

04:48 But, nah, yeah, everyone's just so...

04:51 Like, they bring so much to the team.

04:53 But I feel like, yeah, I deliver on the funny side of life.

04:57 Absolutely. And you're from Manchester as well, obviously.

05:00 How much pride does it give you to represent Manchester City,

05:03 given where you've come from?

05:05 Yeah, I think it's so much, like, obviously you grew up

05:07 seeing the big teams in your city, like the City's, United's,

05:10 but I feel like to make it at City, just so proud for me and my family.

05:14 And how important was it for you to stay close to your family

05:17 and in Manchester as well?

05:19 Yeah, I think my mum was buzzing.

05:21 But, yeah, I don't think it was ever in doubt that I was going to leave.

05:24 And what about your ambitions for the season, both individually and as a team?

05:28 What are you hoping to achieve?

05:30 I think just win as much as we can, obviously.

05:32 We need to qualify for the Champions League this year.

05:34 And obviously we win the league, win FA Cup, win Coney Cup.

05:37 So I think winning as many trophies.

05:40 And then individually I feel like just getting as much from winning

05:42 as I can, like carry on developing.

05:45 It seems crazy to say this, but by the time of 2027 you're still...

05:49 22.

05:50 22, 23, yeah, it's crazy.

05:52 Have you had a chance to sort of think about what you want to achieve

05:55 over that period as well, not just this season?

05:57 Yeah, I think it's just development.

05:59 As we say, I'm still so young, but I feel like developing

06:03 and the sky's the limit, to be honest.

06:06 And just finally, do you have a message for the City fans,

06:08 who I'm sure are going to be absolutely delighted to hear that you're extending?

06:11 Obviously I just can't wait to get on the pitch for another three years

06:14 and show you what I'm about.

06:16 Well, Kiara, thank you so much for your time and congratulations on the new deal.

06:19 Thank you.

06:20 Thank you.

06:21 [END]

06:26 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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