Katie Startup on her move from Brighton to Manchester City Women

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Katie Startup on her move from Brighton to Manchester City Women  06/09/2024  CGA, Manchester, UK

Transcript

00:00Well Katie, welcome back to the club. How does it feel to be sat here as a permanent Manchester City player?

00:07Yeah, it feels great. I'm really excited to be back and a bit longer this time, hopefully.

00:14I'm excited to see what's next, really.

00:18After your loan expired at the end of last season, how were you feeling in that moment?

00:24To be honest, I was just really happy. I really enjoyed my time.

00:29I knew going into that loan, it was six weeks, it was going to be a fixed six weeks,

00:34so I just wanted to make the most of it and enjoy it and I think I did that.

00:38So I was just happy at the end of it.

00:41And from that time during the loan spell, how likely for you was it that you wanted to come here on a permanent deal?

00:50Well, to be honest, I didn't really know that was going to be on the table.

00:54There was no expectation of that when I came.

00:59No, I just knew that when the opportunity did arise, I really enjoyed my time here

01:04and I felt really welcomed and valued and that I settled in with the team really well.

01:10So yeah, when the opportunity did come up, it was a bit of a no-brainer, really.

01:15Did you say it was a no-brainer? Was it an easy decision?

01:18What type of things did you maybe have to consider before making this step?

01:22Yeah, I mean, there's always a bit to think about. It's a big move.

01:28It's just in terms of moving away from home and I've been at Brighton for a long time.

01:34I've enjoyed my time there. But I think I was ready to change the environment a little bit.

01:41I think I learnt a lot whilst I was here, just in that short period.

01:46So yeah, really excited to see how much I can keep going now that that's an extended period as well.

01:54So yeah, I think it was the right time to switch up the environment and move on a bit.

02:00What was it like from your perspective last season joining a club, let's say for six weeks,

02:05but also really pushing for the title at that time?

02:09Yeah, it was a bit weird. It was out of nowhere, really.

02:16But no, it was all pretty calm, actually. I think I would have expected it before I came,

02:24it to be quite hectic and high pressure and everyone's quite stressed and highly strung,

02:29because it's the final push to try and secure the league.

02:33But actually, it kind of struck me as everyone was really calm.

02:37Everyone knew what they were doing, they were in control.

02:40Everyone made sure I was welcome and felt safe and happy here.

02:45It wasn't just to get it done and move on with the process.

02:50I felt taken care of. So yeah, it was a really good experience coming in.

02:56It just allowed me to settle straight away and help the team push on to try and finish the season on a high.

03:03You said you came in and it was calm, everyone knew what they were doing.

03:07Is that an example of the environment we have here at City?

03:10Yeah, absolutely. I think that's really evident throughout.

03:15It didn't feel high pressure. It's a high pressure environment.

03:19Games are always high pressure and the pressure to win is so high.

03:23But it felt calm and in control here.

03:26I think that is always cultivated by the staff, the club, the culture, the players that you bring in.

03:33So I would say that's definitely a reflection on City as a whole.

03:39We just missed out on the title on goal difference.

03:42Does that make you even hungrier to go one better this time around?

03:46Yeah, I feel like I have to come in and help finish the job.

03:51When I came in, it was helping that title push and missing out on goal difference is really gutting.

03:59But yeah, hopefully better luck this time around.

04:03You rejoin our goalkeeping contingent.

04:06Just talk us through what the goalkeepers are like here.

04:10It looks like such a tight-knit group from the outside.

04:13Yeah, obviously I think we were a bit down on numbers a little bit in the tail end of last season.

04:19Mainly worked with Key, really loved working with her.

04:23So much energy, so much potential as well.

04:25No, I'm looking forward to meeting everyone.

04:28It does seem like a really tight-knit group from the outset.

04:33I'm also learning a little bit Japanese, so I'm quite excited to practice that.

04:37Hopefully I can learn a few things there as well.

04:40You touched on our new signings there.

04:43What have you made of those new signings and how the squad is looking going into the new season?

04:49Yeah, I think it's quite exciting.

04:52I think it's always exciting when you bring in a lot of new players to see how that all comes together and how it all slots.

04:58I've not been on the training pitch with them yet, but I have no doubt it's a good, tight-knit squad.

05:09Yeah, I'm just excited to get to know them really, on pitch but off pitch as well, just to settle and see what's what.

05:17What conversations have you had with the manager this summer?

05:21There was a little bit in the process, starting the process to come in.

05:26Obviously we spoke a lot during the loan period.

05:31He was great, touching base with me, just catching me up with what City had been doing all of that season, what their expectations were of me.

05:42I felt up to speed pretty much straight away.

05:45I felt as if I was there for the whole season.

05:49It was similar towards the tail end of trying to figure out what would be the next steps and stuff.

05:57The communication was there all throughout, so that's heartening to me.

06:02When he reached out with the intent to bring me back here, just on the tail end of that loan, I take it as a huge compliment first and foremost.

06:12They've seen something in me and wanted to bring me back in.

06:16And of course, we'll be competing in the Champions League this season as well.

06:20How excited are you to feature in that competition as well?

06:23Yeah, that'll be my first experience of it really.

06:26Excited to see how that looks in a City perspective.

06:33I think similar to what I said before, you would expect it to be a lot of high pressure and that to reflect on the team.

06:40But already seeing the team in high-pressure scenarios, it feels like they deal with it so well.

06:46There's a quiet confidence and a calm about it.

06:50I'm really excited to see how that translates to the European competition.

06:55Like you said, we've got such a high-quality squad.

06:59What have you taken from that already from the six weeks?

07:02Is there anything that you had in that six weeks that you're looking forward to building on from now on?

07:08Yeah, I think I learned a lot on pitch over those six weeks.

07:14I think staff-wise, but also mainly players as well, because they're the ones you're communicating the most with on pitch.

07:21Took a lot of learning from those.

07:24Always try to just be a sponge and soak up everything.

07:27A lot of really helpful feedback during that alone.

07:32I expect the same really, to be honest.

07:35Just want to learn off everyone.

07:37As you said, it's such a high standard of a group.

07:40Probably we'll be facing some difficult shots.

07:45I suspect you're not light on star-quality strikers.

07:51I'm just excited to test myself in with the group.

07:56Katie, what would you say your personal ambitions are for the season?

08:00For me personally, I set my goals by my own personal growth on pitch and off pitch.

08:08I'm always just trying to improve day-to-day, week-to-week.

08:13I think it's a bit idealistic to say you're going to improve every single day.

08:18But I think every day I can learn something.

08:21If I can do that, if I can come away from every day feeling like I've learned something and I can put that in practice,

08:29then I'll be happy come the end of the season, I think.

08:32And just finally, what would your message to the City fans be?

08:37I'm excited to be back.

08:41I think keep supporting the girls because it's going to be a big year.

08:46The potential of a quadruple.

08:49All the support possible is going to be needed.

08:52Just get on board, I think.

08:54Katie, thank you so much for your time and welcome back to the club.

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