InterviewCeri Holland: Liverpool feels like home - it's exciting to continue here
With a move to the new training facility at Melwood upcoming, plus the arrival of six new signings during the summer, optimism is high in the camp.
Holland, who has put pen to paper on a new deal with the club, believes Matt Beard’s side can continue to grow from strength to strength in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
And she sat down with Liverpoolfc.com to discuss her decision to commit her future to the club...
On extending her stay with Liverpool FC Women…
It’s fantastic and I’m just really excited to extend my stay here. It’s been fantastic since I arrived here two-and-a-half years ago and I’m excited to continue my journey here and be part of this project here.
On what playing for this club has meant to her so far…
It just feels like home, to be honest. Since I arrived here, I’ve absolutely loved it and the connection that we have with the fans is unbelievable. Hopefully we can continue to build what we are starting here. I think we are starting something very exciting and we want to continue that journey through to having this new training facility and everything that is being put into the club now in terms of our new signings. I think it’s really exciting.
I just love being here. If you are happy off the pitch then I think that really kind of translates onto the pitch. Last season I was really happy and in a really good place and I think that came out in my performances throughout the season. I want to build on that this season, I’ve got so much more to learn and I want to continue that and grow and this is a club where I feel I can do that. It’s the right club for me.
On the new training facility at Melwood…
It’s a massive step for us and everyone is really excited about that. We’ve signed some really talented players this summer so it’s really exciting where this team is heading after a really positive season last year. We want to build on that and continue to grow and try to challenge that top group.
On the influence of Beard on her game…
He has been fantastic. Last season, especially with my game, he said ‘It’s clicked with you now hasn’t it?’ in terms of the way that he plays. I love working under him, he treats you like one of his own and he’s one of the best for me because he just makes you feel so confident on the pitch and off the pitch. I’m really excited to continue my journey with him.
On how the new players are settling in so far…
They have all done really well and they are fitting in. They have all got different personalities, which is great, because you need different personalities to come in, but in terms of on the pitch they are learning the way we want to play. For us, it’s just trying to make them feel as comfortable as possible as early as possible so they can just continue to build on that.
On the increased competition for places…
I absolutely love it as it just pushes you every single day and that’s what you want as a football player I think; to come in and be challenged every day by the people around you. That’s what you want and where you improve ultimately. I’ve enjoyed playing alongside the new signings in training so far, especially Marie Höbinger, who is looking really sharp. I think she will be great. Obviously we’ve got Fuka Nagano coming back from the World Cup, so there will be a lot of competition, but I think that’s fantastic.
On her ambitions for 2023-24…
Just to build on last season. I want to put my stamp on this team again and try to put in as many good performances as I can. I want to add more goals to my game, I managed to do that more in the second half of last season. I just want to help this team in any way that I can and if we can do that then I think we can be in a really good place.
On a longer pre-season than normal due to the World Cup…
You’ve got to look at it in a positive way. I love pre-season, it’s for me as it’s running around, a lot of that! I think it’s fantastic that we’ve got a lot of time to really work on what we want to do here in terms of the DNA on the pitch and the way that we want to play. For the new signings that is really important and really helpful because it gels us all really quickly, and it means we can work on other things potentially before the season starts. I’m really excited for this long pre-season and I think it will be good.
On the excitement of facing Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in the season opener in October…
I’m absolutely buzzing for this one. I think we will get a really good crowd down there, we will bring a lot of our fans, which will be really exciting and I know they will make a lot of noise like they always do. It will be great to see them all again because we’ve missed them, so to have them with us and get going for the start of the new season at the Emirates, I don’t think you can really ask for more than that.
Our fans are so special, honestly, and the connection that we have with them is unbelievable. I think we have grown a lot since I’ve been here and there’s more fans that come each game and seeing new faces every week is fantastic and we need to continue to build that and build those relationships with them because I think they are fantastic.