NewsMarie Höbinger interview: 'Being at Liverpool has allowed me to express myself'

The Austrian midfielder committed her future to the Reds by putting pen to paper on the deal at the AXA Melwood Training Centre today.

She has become a fan favourite and an important figure within Matt Beard's side following her arrival from FC Zurich Frauen in the summer of 2023, producing seven goals and five assists in 39 appearances.

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Not long after inking the fresh terms, Liverpoolfc.com spoke to the No.14 for her reaction – you can see the full interview below…

Marie, congratulations on your new contract. How happy are you to have extended your stay here?

Thank you. I'm so, so happy. I think it's always an honour to play for Liverpool and I've enjoyed my time so, so much. I think I've also become much more confident and comfortable in that environment. I think it's a good place to be and to extend here.

In quite a short space of time you seem to have made this place home already. Is that something you feel and was it an easy decision to make to stay here for longer?

For sure, that's one of the biggest things for me. Wherever I am, I want to be the happiest and the best of myself, and I think the Liverpool environment makes it really easy. The football club, the city and all the people that I work with every day just give me the chance to get better every day, and I think that's exactly what I want. I've made friendships and, as you said, the city makes me feel [at] home as well.

Let's talk about your teammates because I know there's a strong bond within the dressing room, but you also do a lot socially as well and that must have helped you as a young player coming over here...

I think the team environment is so important for me and for everyone to get the best out of everyone. We live here really strongly every day and I feel like the staff is also involved in that process. Over the years that I've experienced, we've created such a strong bond and I think you can see that on the pitch – but also off the pitch. I think it's also just that support system around you that's so important for the performances.

It certainly helped you last season and this season as well with 12 goal contributions overall. How do you feel you've adapted to the league?

Just the environment made it so easy for me. I think I've always said that from day one I felt really welcomed here from everyone. As I said, for me it's really important to feel good somewhere and feel good in myself. I think Liverpool also allowed me to express myself on and off the pitch. I especially feel challenged every day but still could really find myself and settle. I think that played a big part in the performances.

And the fans are probably a big part of that as well. You've become a favourite with them over your time here. Do you feel that love from them?

The fans are special, for sure. I feel like they are very close to us as well. Their support from the sidelines is just so good and I think even the chats before and after the game give me so much. They're waiting for us before the game to cheer us up and to gas us up. And after the game, whatever the result is, they're there. I think in good situations for sure but then in tougher situations it gives you so much as well.

• In photos: Marie Höbinger seals new deal with LFC Women

There's plenty of competition in your position for places now. Do you feel like that's going to bring the best in you as an individual?

I think competition always brings the best out of you. But I think there are so many things that motivate me so much and I think it's for me also just the drive to get better every day and to help the team as much as I can. As I said, I'm really a team player, so I think even that motivates me to just be the best for them and help as much as I can – same as competition. Also to play for the club, of course, because I think everyone knows that it's a huge responsibility to represent [Liverpool] and I'm really happy I can do that.

A couple of years ago, we spoke about how you started your love of football by playing in the garden with your brother. Family must still be a big motivating factor for you and they must be extremely proud of you as well...

They support me a lot. They are very involved and invested, they watch all the games they can. I think family – same as the environment here – is so important to be yourself and to be the best of yourself. I'm really grateful I have them by my side and have that support from home as well.

In terms of this season, I think it's fair to say we haven't got the results that we'd have wanted so far. You've been out with a bit of an injury but how much are you looking forward to being back and trying to help contribute to those results picking up in the second half of the season?

I think the first part of the season was very different to last year and probably a lot more challenging. But I think we all know that's also a chance to make the next step. I think we've had a good reset over the winter break now and we have such good energy. I'm really optimistic that we're going to smash it in the second part of the season. We have everything it takes and we just have to maybe adapt a few things and then things are going to go our way as well.

The first game of the year ends up being at home because of the West Ham postponement – you must be excited to be back at St Helens Stadium...

So excited. I think the atmosphere in St Helens has been so good over the course of the season and I think it's also time to give something to the supporters. I think we all know that that starts now. I think it's just time to take responsibility. I'm really excited to be back, I haven't played in a long time – too long – and I think everyone is just really excited to get started again.