Manchester City’s Steph Houghton teaching UAE girls the game is ‘something that we take seriously’

Steph Houghton is excited about the future of women’s football. Vidhyaa for The National
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Manchester City and England captain Steph Houghton is in Abu Dhabi as part of the club’s preparation for the upcoming FA Women’s Super League season and she sat down with Ali Khaled.

On competing at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, where England finished third

“It was fantastic. It is the pinnacle of your career to be able to play in a World Cup, to be able to represent and captain your country, as well.

“The fact that we came away with the bronze medal was fantastic, and we were so close to going all the way. But it is something we can improve on and hopefully go again in the Euros.”

On playing for City

“It is my third year there. I think this club has everything any professional footballer would want.

“To be able to train at first-class facilities every single day, to be a professional footballer and to play in the style of football that we do play, it is amazing for us. For any player that wants to develop, this is the club to be at.”

Being integrated into City’s football academy

“The game in England is getting bigger and better, and a lot of the clubs are investing a lot into the women’s teams. But it is nice for us to be leading the way and have our own pitch and our own stadium to play in every Sunday.

“The club’s amazing in that everybody knows each other’s results and the squads are close, and whenever we see the first-team lads, they are always saying hello and asking how we are doing. I think it is great to have that culture.”

On qualifying to the Champions League

“Last year we were disappointed not to get any silverware, but to qualify for the Champions League was great. I experienced that with Arsenal previously and it is the pinnacle in club football.

“To be part of that and to play against the best in Europe, it will be nice for us to get a taste and hopefully start off well.”

On coming to Abu Dhabi

“We came here last year and enjoyed the whole experience. To come here and to inspire the young girls in the UAE to play football is something that we take seriously.”

akhaled@thenational.ae

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