Karen Bardsley Quotes

"What goalkeeper doesn't like a little action?"

"I graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Art in Graphic Design, and all in all, I can look back on my collegiate experience and say that I really did enjoy myself."

"Every minute I'm on the field, I'm out there playing for my team, and the success of our team is what is most important to me."

"My teammates always have my back on the field, and I will do everything in my power to make sure I always have theirs."

"My goal has never been to see how many stats I can rack up."

"I trained with some great keepers at college, alongside full-grown men, and it helped me 100%."

"The only technical difference you will find is, if you are keeping goal as a male, they will play a bit further out, but set positions are the same, and techniques are constantly evolving."

"I've seen my share of bad goalkeeping, and I've had my moments. But I've seen some excellent goalkeeping as well."

"I don't see why people can't praise when they see something done well - even if it is by a woman."

"You take the opportunities when you get them, and you try to see if there's any cues the opposition gives you, but more important is focusing on your own process, trusting your instincts, and being decisive."

"There's no pressure on a goalkeeper in a penalty shootout. So it's a nice opportunity for us to have some fun and try and make some saves."

"You'll do anything to keep the ball out."

"In my position, I'm always going to get a bit of flak. I take it with a grain of salt."

"People can say what they want. It's their opinion. We forget what we don't need to take with us."

"That's what tournament football's all about. It's about finding your feet in the first game, finding what works, and gaining confidence."

"I've lived all my life in the U.S., but to be brutally honest, I don't really have any ties to the country apart from my mum and dad. Most of the rest of my family live in the Stockport area, and I've always related more to that side of my background."

"I think City is a really good example of how you shift the culture internally. We've had a big culture shift, particularly in the academy. Young boys are now more comfortable with strong female athletes being around."

"Unfortunately, everyone's football career does come to an end."

"You have to stand and fight for what you believe."

"Everyone provides a different experience, and for me, personally, it's important that all perspectives are seen."

"I'm not fussed about awards. I just want to win a medal and a trophy."

"Female goalkeepers are seen as equals in academies now. We're trying to set a good example for the younger boys so they're used to seeing us women around, making great saves and scoring great goals."

"Just normalising the idea of women playing football is a massive part of what we need to do."

"I trained alongside full-grown men at college and worked with some great male keepers. It helped me 100% with speed of play, speed of reactions, and strength. The mindset they gave me was invaluable."

"If you speak to girls who play football alongside lads, they'll tell you that you almost have to earn the right to play with them. It's annoying that you have to do that, but once you've done it, the barriers are down."

"There's no point going to a tournament if you don't want to win."

"I grew up watching Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, watching them achieve."

"Beating the Germans for the first time in our history was massive."

"Goalkeeping in women's football is catching up slowly. It is continuing to modernise, improving technically and physically."

"Goalkeepers get criticism for commenting on outfield players, but outfield players can comment on goalkeeping; it is not a two-way street."