Katie McCabe played the full 90 minutes for Arsenal in their 3-0 win over Linkoping on Wednesday. Minutes later, her nomination for the 2023 Ballon D’Or was confirmed. Katie spoke to a few of us post-game. The first three questions are from Arseblog News.
On being nominated for the Ballon D’Or…
It’s a first for an Irish women’s player so it’s a really nice accolade on a personal level but you can never achieve those things without your teammates. For me it is always about the team and how we compete and win trophies together, that is why I play a team sport. I love picking up trophies with my teammates but it is always nice to be nominated for a Ballon D’Or- though I think it’s the first time I have said that!
On getting through the game against Linkoping…
It is a massive credit to the girls who came back a week ago, those girls that were in the final stages of the World Cup and the massive amount of work the girls who came back earlier have done. It was a big, big team effort tonight we knew it was going to be really difficult, playing away at a team who have played a couple of games already this season. We knew it was going to be a battle but it was a big shift, we started with quality and we ended with quality, you see the impact the girls made from the bench as well. That is what we were missing a bit at the end of last season with players missing, it is really exciting to put a shift together like that as a team.
On finishing the game at right-back…
You know me, Tim, I play wherever I am put! With the injury to Laura (Wienroither), we have Noelle (Maritz) in that area and it’s maybe an area Jonas is looking at but you’d have to ask him yourself- I am sure you will! I liked it, I liked inverting and working and linking up with the quality we have in midfield. It’s another new position for me but one to enjoy.
On the importance of the Swedish connection in the squad for this game…
We were talking to the Swedish girls, with Stina, Frida and Lina all having played here, we understood what they were about. They are a physical team they are a tall team too and we knew they would get stuck in and compete. They have had a few games before this so we knew it would be a difficult task. It always is in this round, starting really early off the back of a World Cup on the other side of the world. I am really pleased with how we played, three goals, clean sheet and another massive game on Saturday.
On how much rest she had after the World Cup…
I think I had about a week off! A week and a half. I took myself away by myself and didn’t talk to anyone for a week, it was great! I took myself away to switch off because I knew would be massive coming back and having to be on our A game right from the off, you’re playing and training with the best players in the world and you have to perform day in, day out to get a spot.
On the goals for this season…
Wearing the Arsenal shirt is all about trophies. The pressure is to perform and be consistent, we want to compete on all fronts. With the quality we have brought in and that we have here I have no doubt we can do that this season.
Well done girls
Go on, Katie. I fceking LOVE that woman.
Will they get released for some time off after the game with Paris? Or everyone will be back to London and start getting ready for the new season? I’m just worried that the girls participating in the WC (especially those that got to the later stages) didn’t get enough rest…
I plan to ask this on Saturday.
Katie is just the embodiment of the perfect arsenal player. Love the way she plays and the passion for the club. What a player.