She made history at the Women’s World Cup and now Claire Emslie has her sights set on a successful W-League season with Melbourne City.
The 25-year-old joins City on loan from National Women’s Soccer League side Orlando City for the upcoming W-League season, which kicks off this weekend, and will be looked upon as a source of goals with the club desperate to return to the finals – which they missed out on last season on goal-difference.
Despite the short turn around for Emslie – who arrives in Melbourne after a Euro qualifier in Albania– she says she feels refreshed and excited for the new season.
“It’s a short season so it’ll be really competitive,” she said.
“If you look at the signings made across the league there’s quite a lot of players coming from the American league who are big players.
“I think it will be competitive and exciting, I’ve heard if you make the Grand Final and semi-finals it’s a really exciting atmosphere so I’m excited for that.”
Emslie arrives in Melbourne with a wealth of experience, having played for Manchester City as well as Orlando, which she believes will help her transition into Melbourne City – which shares the same values under the City Football Group.
“It’s crazy it’s so similar the building itself is designed the same, the writing on the walls even like the water fountains are the same,” she said.
“It’s pretty crazy but it’s cool I feel like I’ve almost been here before, it definitely helps training wise because the facilities and the set-up are the same.”
She is also coming off a history making World Cup campaign with Scotland, where she became the first Scottish player to score in the tournament.
“The World Cup was an incredible experience, I think being Scottish it’s not often we ever qualify for anything so fortunately the women’s team has been doing pretty good to qualify for the Euros last tournament and the World cup,” she said.
“It was an incredible to go there and play on the world stage with the world’s best players.”
Featured Image; Orlando City FC
