Q&AKirsty Maclean interview: 'This club speaks for itself - I'm really proud to be here'
Kirsty Maclean feels proud and excited about the opportunity to play for Liverpool FC Women.
The 20-year-old midfielder is the Reds' first new signing of the summer after she finalised her transfer from Rangers at the AXA Melwood Training Centre today.
Maclean, a Scotland international, rose through the youth ranks at the Glasgow club and won one league title, plus two Scottish Cups and two Premier League Cups, during her time there.
Soon after she had completed a medical and put pen to paper on her contract, Maclean sat down for her first interview as a Liverpool player.
Read it in full below…
Kirsty, welcome to Liverpool. How much are you looking forward to starting a new chapter in your career here?
Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. I'm really excited to get going in pre-season and to meet all the girls, and hopefully we can start the season well.
How much does it mean to be able to say Liverpool is now your club?
I think the club speaks for itself. It's obviously a massive club with a lot of history and to be able to represent the badge is a really proud moment for me.
What are your first impressions of the AXA Melwood Training Centre?
It's amazing I get to work here every day now. It's obviously [got] top-class facilities so hopefully it can help me become a better player.
Why does now feel like the right time to make the move here?
Obviously I was at Rangers for 11 years and I loved my time there but I felt like it was the right time for a new challenge and to take the next step into the WSL, so I'm really looking forward to it.
What type of player are you and what qualities will you bring to the team?
I'm a midfielder who likes to be on the ball and tries to make things happen so hopefully I can link up with the players in front of me and we can try to score lots of goals this season.
Are you hoping to add goals to this team yourself?
Yeah, I'd love to score a few more goals and I like to assist people as well, so hopefully I can do that a lot more this season.
What kind of different challenge are you expecting from the WSL?
I think it's obviously a step up [for me]. I think the league speaks for itself again: it's obviously really competitive, teams can take points off anyone and we've obviously got teams at the top of the league who are competing in the Champions League. So, to be able to test myself against them is a huge opportunity for me, especially as a young player, but it's one I'm really looking forward to.
There is plenty of experience in the squad here so do you see joining the club as a learning opportunity too?
Yeah, definitely. As I just mentioned, I'm obviously still young so I'm looking to learn off as many people as I can and I'll try to lean on all the experienced players that are here as much as possible.
You are international teammates with Jenna Clark and Sam Kerr, so what have they told you about Liverpool?
Yeah, I'm close with both Jenna and Sam and they've not got a bad word to say about the club. Obviously Sam was only here for a short spell last season but she loved every minute of it and Jenna has been here for a while now. They say all the girls are so nice and the culture about the city as well is one I can look forward to.
Have they told you that it's like a family environment here, as well as a football club?
Yeah, 100 per cent. Jenna says when she first came here the girls were so welcoming to her, so that's something that helped me feel that this was the right place for me to come, and hopefully I can meet the girls soon and get started.
Are you looking forward to immersing yourself in the city and its culture too?
Yeah, obviously I've seen a wee bit of the city now but I'm definitely looking forward to exploring it a bit more. I've heard a lot about it off of Jenna and Sam, so I can't wait to see it more.
What are your personal ambitions for the coming season?
I'm obviously hoping to be the best player I can be. It will probably take me a while to settle in but I'm looking forward to that challenge and hopefully at the end of the season I can be proud of what I've achieved this season.
Finally, how confident are you that the team can enjoy a strong season?
Obviously I watched the team quite a few times last season and I was really impressed. I think they've got some amazing players that I'm sure even this season can kick on and we can achieve more together.