Karen Bardsley

“I don't know what I was expecting the World Cup to be like. I never thought to ask anybody; maybe I should have. I've never played in a stadium with, like, 20,000 watching. It was an intense sensory experience.”

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

“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.”

“As a result of my upbringing, I was interested in reconnecting with my family and making them proud. Therefore, this emotional connection meant that representing England became a personal obsession.”

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

“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 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.”

“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.”

“It just goes to show how much the women's game has improved over the years: there are some outstanding goalkeepers capable of fantastic reaction saves.”

“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.”

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

“Every time I step onto the field, I think of my parents. It's such an honor to represent them and my family.”

“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.”

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

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

“There are constant messages I heard growing up... like, 'If you're unfit, you go in goal' or, 'If you're crap, you go in goal.' No, no, no! How do we change that? How do we give goalkeeping more respect?”

“You try to do the right thing at the right time and make a good impression on people.”

“I found it personally really difficult to admit to myself that I was struggling sometimes, but once I had the feelings and I knew I could not sit with them any longer, I sought the help I needed.”

“As a keeper, you have to understand that your job is black and white: you make a save, or you don't; you can be the hero - or the goat.”

“It took me a while to accept everything, but I am so grateful for the way my parents raised me. It's my life, it's unique, and I think it's so meaningful to me as I get older.”