Khiara Keating on signing her Manchester City contract extension
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 So Kiara, congratulations, new deal to 2027, how does it feel?
00:04 Yeah, obviously it's a proud moment for me and my family,
00:07 obviously just staying at this great club, I think we've got so much more to give
00:10 and I'm just glad I can be here for an extra three years to contribute to the team.
00:14 What was it that convinced you that this was the right place to be
00:17 and that you wanted to extend your stay?
00:19 I mean, I don't think it was ever in question.
00:21 It's always been home since I was 11 and I feel like it's just an honour
00:26 to obviously be offered that contract extension.
00:28 So yeah, I don't think it was ever in doubt that I wasn't going to stay.
00:32 You're obviously still very early in your career,
00:34 but you've had a lot of senior minutes this year.
00:36 How important has that been for your development this season, do you feel?
00:40 Yeah, I think it's huge, obviously.
00:42 You only get better from when you're put in real-life situations of a game
00:45 and I think obviously Guys has put his faith in me
00:47 to start all the league games in the season.
00:50 So I feel like, yeah, it's just confidence building.
00:53 The more games I play, the more obviously I gain confidence
00:56 and yeah, we shall see what it brings.
00:58 Speaking of the manager, how important was he in your decision
01:01 to want to stay at the club?
01:03 Yeah, huge, obviously.
01:04 Guys putting his trust in me and me playing so much this season.
01:09 I don't think anyone expected it, but obviously he has a plan in his head
01:13 and I'm just glad that I'm part of it.
01:15 And obviously there's a lot of important people behind the scenes
01:17 in terms of coaching staff and also other players,
01:20 your fellow goalkeepers and senior players.
01:22 How important have they been in just supporting you
01:24 and helping you on your journey so far?
01:26 Yeah, I think they're so amazing.
01:28 I think this team, we've been tighter than ever than previous seasons.
01:31 I feel like it's just so much more homey
01:33 and you're so much more comfortable to be around each other
01:37 on and off the pitch.
01:38 I feel like when you have trust in a team, that's the main thing.
01:41 And I feel like this season, we do trust each other a lot
01:43 and I feel like we're going to get far.
01:45 Are there any key messages that you've been giving all the rest of the players
01:48 from the manager and coaching staff to help you through
01:51 these first few months of real regular senior minutes?
01:54 I think just do me, like I got to the position I am
01:58 just by being me and my attributes.
02:00 I feel like everyone has faith in you,
02:02 so just go out there and perform and do what you need to do.
02:06 Speaking of your attributes, obviously you've got so many,
02:08 but a real quality of yours is your ability on the ball
02:11 and your distribution.
02:12 Do you feel like that's something that's really valued at City?
02:15 So do you feel like that's something that suits your style
02:18 and the club's perfectly?
02:19 Yeah, I think obviously people come to City because the way we play football,
02:23 so I feel like my attributes and the way the team plays fit quite well.
02:27 But obviously it just depends on the game, whether we want to go long or short
02:30 and the guys' decision at the end of the day.
02:32 But yeah, I feel like I fit right in.
02:34 As you've mentioned, you've obviously come through the ranks at the club
02:37 from the youth team through to the senior.
02:39 Does that make it extra special for you to now be a regular
02:42 in the first team that you've really had to work your way through?
02:45 Yeah, I think it's always special to play, but knowing that you came
02:48 through the academy is special, and I think it shows all the girls
02:51 in the academy now that it is possible, even at such a young age.
02:54 And obviously you're not the only person in the team that's come through the ranks.
02:57 You've got the likes of Esme Morgan, Jess Park.
02:59 So between the three of you and many others, does that give you even more pride
03:02 that it's not just yourself, it's a real sort of value of the club to be,
03:06 to value youth and give them a chance?
03:08 Yeah, I think it just shows everything that City's about.
03:11 It puts trust in younger players and gives you the platform there
03:14 to go and succeed and do well.
03:16 We've got to talk about your England call-up recently.
03:18 I know it was something that you were very proud of.
03:20 It was fully deserved.
03:21 Can you just talk us through how that experience was with England recently?
03:25 Yeah, it was amazing.
03:26 The girls, the training, everything, the environment was just so good
03:30 to just be around and soak up all that experience.
03:33 I might not have gotten the pitch, but I feel like it wasn't like
03:36 I didn't go there with any expectations.
03:38 I was just soaking in everything.
03:39 Yeah, it was so good.
03:41 What did the rest of the City players have to say
03:43 when they found out that you'd got in the squad?
03:45 They were all just so buzzing.
03:47 It was like you deserved it.
03:48 I feel like it helped that they were there as well.
03:51 It felt a bit more like home than obviously just walking into
03:53 a brand new team, but yeah, it was good.
03:56 Absolutely, and it's a massive achievement for any player,
03:58 regardless of their age, but the fact that you've done it at 19,
04:01 it must be that evidence and reward for all the hard work
04:04 that you've been doing in the last few months to get that opportunity.
04:07 Yeah, I think I was more shocked, like me and my teammate Grace Clint.
04:11 I feel like we didn't expect it so soon,
04:14 but yeah, it was a special moment for everyone.
04:16 As you've mentioned already, this seems like a really tight-knit group at City.
04:20 Just how special is this team this year, do you feel?
04:23 Yeah, so good. I feel like just bringing in Gio, she's a big character,
04:26 but there wasn't that much movement, whereas last season there was so much.
04:30 But I feel like, yeah, we're just so close on and off the pitch.
04:33 You're a very popular member of the squad as well, from speaking to players.
04:37 They often say you're the funny one as well.
04:39 Are there any players that you particularly like playing pranks on
04:42 or with or anyone like that?
04:44 Yeah, me and Ruby are double trouble, I'd say, together a bit.
04:48 But, nah, yeah, everyone's just so...
04:51 Like, they bring so much to the team.
04:53 But I feel like, yeah, I deliver on the funny side of life.
04:57 Absolutely. And you're from Manchester as well, obviously.
05:00 How much pride does it give you to represent Manchester City,
05:03 given where you've come from?
05:05 Yeah, I think it's so much, like, obviously you grew up
05:07 seeing the big teams in your city, like the City's, United's,
05:10 but I feel like to make it at City, just so proud for me and my family.
05:14 And how important was it for you to stay close to your family
05:17 and in Manchester as well?
05:19 Yeah, I think my mum was buzzing.
05:21 But, yeah, I don't think it was ever in doubt that I was going to leave.
05:24 And what about your ambitions for the season, both individually and as a team?
05:28 What are you hoping to achieve?
05:30 I think just win as much as we can, obviously.
05:32 We need to qualify for the Champions League this year.
05:34 And obviously we win the league, win FA Cup, win Coney Cup.
05:37 So I think winning as many trophies.
05:40 And then individually I feel like just getting as much from winning
05:42 as I can, like carry on developing.
05:45 It seems crazy to say this, but by the time of 2027 you're still...
05:49 22.
05:50 22, 23, yeah, it's crazy.
05:52 Have you had a chance to sort of think about what you want to achieve
05:55 over that period as well, not just this season?
05:57 Yeah, I think it's just development.
05:59 As we say, I'm still so young, but I feel like developing
06:03 and the sky's the limit, to be honest.
06:06 And just finally, do you have a message for the City fans,
06:08 who I'm sure are going to be absolutely delighted to hear that you're extending?
06:11 Obviously I just can't wait to get on the pitch for another three years
06:14 and show you what I'm about.
06:16 Well, Kiara, thank you so much for your time and congratulations on the new deal.
06:19 Thank you.
06:20 Thank you.
06:21 [END]
06:26 [BLANK_AUDIO]