Prior to Sunday’s WSL home game against Everton at Emirates Stadium, a few of us had the opportunity to speak to Caitlin Foord. Here is a transcript from Friday afternoon at the Sobha Realty Trainign Centre. The first three responses are to question from Arseblog News.
On playing on the right hand side more this season…
It’s very similar, if anything it is somewhat easier being able to be on my dominant foot a lot more. We only really had three wingers until now, so we’re working it with me, Mariona and Beth. More players coming back now so I am not really sure on which side I will play more often now but I have always been open to playing on either side, as long as I am on the pitch!’
On playing at left-back for the final 25 minutes at Leicester last weekend…
In the MD-1 session I played left-back for a bit. I thought that was because we were thin on full-backs but Jonas had a conversation with me after training and said it might be a potential option. Our full-backs played a lot of minutes, and said depending on how the game was going it might happen. It felt a bit like going back in time being back there but I was happy to do the job and not concede.
On playing against Everton’s back five and how it is for a wide player against a back five…
It depends on how we set up against them, sometimes it is easier to know who your direct opponent is with the three. They tend to overload the sides of the midfield, so it’s for us to make the most of that and keep them outside of that and if they do go in, to win it as quickly as we can. It is about being adaptable if they go from a three to a four and being able to interchange in and out of our positions.
On how much better teams like Everton and Leicester are getting…
It is getting more competitive, there are more internationals coming into the league and not just the top three. Every single team is getting stronger, even in the Championship it is getting better and closer and the margins are getting finer there.
A team like Leicester, maybe a few years ago we would have won by a big margin, now it’s not the case. We have seen last season that teams take points from the top teams and that is the growth of the league. It is almost that anyone can win on any given day and we have to be at our best in every game.
On playing more games at the Emirates this season…
It is incredible, we love playing at the Emirates, it’s a special feeling. The biggest change is that the first few games we played there it didn’t feel like a home game because it was something different. Now it feels like home and having the fans piling in as well, those are the games you play for, in packed out stadiums.
To see Arsenal be the leader in that sense across the board is so exciting and it’s nice to be a part of it and part of the change and to see other teams have to follow but still not get as much as we do. It is nice to know we have such a great fan base and every time we go out we want to put on a show to keep them coming back.’
On how much she values her versatility…
As a player, you value consistency to focus on one thing but, at the same time, I am a player that likes a challenge. For the national team, I am more on the left but I will be put in the 9 or the 10 i just feel like it makes me refocus and switch on and I don’t mind change everything now and then but wouldn’t want it every single game!’
COYGG