Karen Bardsley

“We do get a lot of sexist tweets and comments, things about a woman's place being in the kitchen, not on the pitch.”

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

“You can make loads of great saves, but if you concede, it's, 'That's what we will show the world.'”

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

“I want to carry on improving and learning.”

“Anyone that plays knows football is up and down. As much as you want to, you can't control everything. You take what positives you can.”

“You have to stand and fight for what you believe.”

“You think it's so easy? Get in goal.”

“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.”

“It's a goalkeeper's job. There's so many times you're doing nothing for 89, 90 minutes, and then there's a split-second moment. It's a different challenge to outfield players, who have a lot of physical challenges and battle. We have a lot of mental battles; it's about maintaining your focus, refining processes of what you do in a game.”

“You have to choose to use mistakes as learning opportunities and leave them behind.”

“You'll do anything to keep the ball out.”

“It's very important for me to constantly push myself.”

“We talk sometimes about the impact we hope we're having, that little girls - and boys - at home are watching us on TV. We can be role models.”

“Road wins are critical, and it's huge for you as a team when you can pick up three points on the road.”

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

“I like to eat healthily and feel like I'm putting good fuel in my body, although I do allow some tasty treats once in a while.”

“What goalkeeper doesn't like a little action?”

“My big thing is we need to change how people feel about goalkeeping. I don't think there is enough respect for the position in the game, whether male or female. There is a stigma that you have to be a certain size or not very good with your feet, or you have had to go in goal as a last resort.”

“I don't think there's any reason why girl goalkeepers cannot train alongside the boys in academies. We have done it in the past. But health and safety have stepped in and stopped us. It may be there were child protection regulations to observe.”