The 20-year-old wears the national team kit for the first time in a championship in England. The left-back spent ten minutes showing exactly how offensive she is. This is not surprising either. Blakstad ravaged on the left wing for Rosenborg in the Toppserien, where she scored 17 goals in 35 league games. After her debut season, she ended up on UEFA’s list of top ten players to watch out for. The big clubs were in line for this year’s young player after the 2021 season. The choice ultimately falls on hard-hitting Manchester City. GREATEST: Julie Blakstad in Manchester. Photo: Roy Kenneth Sydnes Jacobsen / news At the same time, the dangerous wing was used more and more on the left back under national team manager Martin Sjögren. She also got that role with the light blues. – This is not where I dream of (to play, journ. Note), and I do not envisage playing there for the next ten years. At the same time, I feel that things are getting better and better there, but that it is an intermediate period for me, says Blakstad to news. Has said from news met Blakstad in Manchester a couple of months before the start of the European Championships. Then she had just scored her first goal for the club with a whistle from the near dead angle against Leicester. Well, it was a post, Blakstad admits, but then she had also been close to many times. – The good players are lucky, isn’t that a victory? Blakstad asks, smiling. Photo: Roy Kenneth Sydnes Jacobsen / news The goal came as both Norway and City have a habit of seeing her: Storming towards goal from back position. She points out that the retraining to back is best suited for both Norway and Manchester City right now. At the same time, she gets the freedom to be offensive. But she really wants to be central in the field. She thrives best there. – When I came here, I was not forewarned of getting so much playing time. So in the first period, I have seen playing time as something positive, regardless of where on the court I have played, says Blakstad and points out that a lot can happen during the contract period of 2.5 years. – I have a good dialogue with Gareth (Taylor, manager) about that too, and he is clear that these are the offensive qualities he sees in me, says Blakstad. – Enormous potential On the national team, Guro Reiten has seized the left midfield position. In Manchester City, the competition for the edge spots is even tougher. Left winger Lauren Hemp (21) has been named young player of the year in England for four of the last five seasons. – I’m very impressed with Julie. She is a player we identified long before we actually signed her, says Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor to news. CITY MANAGER: Gareth Taylor. Photo: JOHN SIBLEY / Reuters He points out that Blakstad came to City in the middle of the season in January. Then it is always extra difficult to establish oneself. Nevertheless, she was a very good growth already this spring, praises Taylor. – We do not expect her to recover as quickly as she did, since she is a young player from another country. But she has come in in a great way, and we are excited about her future, says the manager. – In Norway, Blakstad was a winger, and she prefers to play further ahead. How do you think you will use her in the future? – I think it’s obvious how good Julie is. She has the ability to play in the backcourt, as a wingback, even as a number 10 if she improves the quality between the joints. But ideally for us, I think wing is her main role, where she will have the most impact on the fight, Taylor answers. SUNNY: Julie Blakstad met the press the day after the 4-1 victory over Northern Ireland. Photo: VEGARD GRØTT / BILDBYRÅN He adds that she should always be high on the track when she is used in the backcourt. At the same time, he highlights the tough competition. – But Julie has made very good contributions and her game has improved a lot. We are looking forward to more because she has enormous potential, says Taylor. Tough test Blakstad himself is positively surprised by the level in England. It’s even higher than she thought at first. Therefore, the 20-year-old believes that she is constantly taking new steps with her teammates also in the training field. It could be worth its weight in gold when England face the opposite half of the field in the European Championships on Monday night. Here, Arsenal wing Bethany Mead and former teammate Lucy Bronze are waiting on England’s right side. The latter, who was named the best player in the world in 2020, left Manchester City for Barcelona in June. – That is what one has worked for and dreamed of since one was little: To be allowed to play with and against such players. So it’s really just a matter of absorbing all the learning one can. I think it’s important just to look at what they are good at, and then I think one can challenge them on certain things, too. So it is very educational, and I look forward to the continuation, says Blakstad.
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Norway’s shooting star Julie Blakstad is praised by the City boss – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
