‘It is a dream to be playing in Europe’
Dahlkemper, who lines up for Manchester City against Barcelona today, is relishing her winning start to life in WSL
With 20 league wins from as many games this season and a goal difference of 96, free-scoring Barcelona would appear to be the European women’s game’s unstoppable force in attack.
Today though, they face the immovable object of a Manchester City defence who have let in only one goal since their newest addition joined.
United States defender Abby Dahlkemper has gone nearly 10 hours of football without conceding for club or country, and has tasted victory in all seven of her City appearances in all competitions. As she prepares for the first leg of her new club’s heavyweight quarter-final clash with the Spanish Primera Division leaders, the World Cup-winning centre-half believes landing the competition is the “pinnacle” of club football.
“As a footballer, it’s really anyone’s dream to come and play in Europe,” the 27-year-old says. “When I was given this opportunity in December it was unexpected, but it was a great unexpected surprise.”
Reflecting on her move to the Women’s Super League club in January, she says: “I’d always been open to wanting to play in Europe, but it was going to take the right time and the right team, so the values of what Man City was looking for all lined up into this perfect storm, and it happened. Now I’m all-in over here.
“Making my Champions League debut against Fiorentina [in the last 16] was really special.
“I’ve never played against Barcelona, but I’ve heard nothing but good things. We completely respect them, but we’re also confident in our ability.”
City have every reason to be confident, as they are enjoying a 10-game winning streak of their own in the WSL.
In the past five of those, they have benefited from Dahlkemper’s calm, assured presence, after the left-sided centre-half made her debut in the 4-0 win over West Ham on Jan 31.
She is very appreciative of those around her, in arguably one of the best back fours on the planet, although an Achilles problem rules out her centre-back partner, England captain Steph Houghton, for today’s game.
“They’re world-class players, Lucy [Bronze], Alex [Greenwood], Steph and also Demi Stokes, who is coming back from injury. There are so many quality players at Man City,” says Dahlkemper, who hopes her “goofiness” has brought smiles around the dressing room.
“The quality of all these players around me really helped me transition into this different style, different system and different league.”
Not long ago, the US’S big stars coming to the WSL was almost unheard of, but now Dahlkemper is one of three American World Cup winners at City alone, alongside midfielders Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle, with all three being very good friends “in life as well as in soccer”, Dahlkemper adds.
But the WSL has been elevated to new heights of late – not least by Monday’s announcement of a £7 million-per-year television rights deal with the BBC and Sky Sports – and it is the “tactical and technical” challenges of the division that drew Dahlkemper across the Atlantic from North Carolina Courage, with whom she won the NWSL championship in 2018 and 2019.
“It was a tough decision, because I had nothing but respect and love for my home team, but it was an exciting opportunity to get out of my comfort zone,” she says. “The ability to get challenged and experience something new intrigued me.
“It [the WSL] is a lot more tactical and technical in the way you have to approach different teams. Being outside of your comfort zone is the best way to learn, grow and to become better.”