Forward Emslie thrilled to finally join team workouts

Orlando Pride dynamic forward Claire Emslie was elated to finally join her teammates on the pitch Friday.

Emslie shared frustrated social media posts as the Pride started individual, group and team training sessions in phases while she remained stuck in Europe.

Pride and National Women’s Soccer League officials pushed to help her and other players who spent the coronavirus shutdown outside the country into the United States despite varying travel bans.

Emslie finally made it to Orlando and promptly was placed in quarantine for seven days before she could begin training with her teammates.

“It’s so nice to be back,” she said after Friday’s workout. “I’ve just finished my seven-days quarantine, so I was getting a bit crazy not seeing anyone. So it’s so nice to see everyone’s faces again and get on the pitch with them.

“I was in lockdown in Manchester for 10 weeks, so I had the first two weeks off to recover from the Australian season and then I’ve been following the training program. But it’s been a bit easier training in the cold weather over there. So coming over here, it’s a bit different. Now I’m doing everything to try to get as fit I can and prepared for coming back.”

Emslie and Pride teammate Emily van Egmond played together for Melbourne City, which won the W-League championship in Australia.

Emslie is hoping that championship energy rubs off on the Pride.

“It was a great season and it was nice to share with Emily as well,” Emslie said. “Now that she’s back, I understand the way she plays a lot better and hopefully we can bring that to Orlando.”

Emslie joined the Pride late last season and showed promise, forging strong connections with Marta.

Pride coach Marc Skinner said players stuck overseas, including Emslie, are not easy to replace and the club worked to try to help bring them back to

Orlando as soon as possible.

“Look, we’ve missed them but it’s almost like they’ve never been away because of the fact that they’ve got great character and they’re great people, so they fit straight in with exactly what we wanted them to do,” he said.

Skinner is pleased with the way his team is progressing during workouts ahead of the NWSL Challenge Cup later this month in Utah.

“I think we’re in a really good place,” he said. “We’ve connecting as a team. We’ve been doing work off the field as well as on the field.

“… I think what I’ve enjoyed from the players most is the energy, even at the end [of training] there. They’ve been given everything and it’s such a great thing that we’re connecting on the field, we’re connecting off the field. And we need to show the team that we can be.”

He added there is a “lovely energy driving us into the tournament.”