Manchester City's teenage sensation Mary Fowler is expecting an 'electric atmosphere' as she prepares for her first derby against Manchester United.
City welcome their fierce rivals knowing they need a win to move level on points with them in the WSL table, in the Sunday lunchtime clash taking place at the Etihad stadium, with over 40,000 fans expected. And Fowler, 19, is now pushing for a start in the clubs' biggest match of the season.
The Australian forward joined the Citizens in the summer and netted her third goal for the club in a 2-0 midweek Continental Cup win over fellow WSL side Liverpool. Her performance will have given manager Gareth Taylor food for thought as he assess his attacking options for the derby.
To add further fuel to the fire in the standout WSL fixture of the week, both sides need a win to maintain pace with league leaders Chelsea if they are to offer a serious title challenge this season. But the Matildas' forward isn't phased by the pressure.
"I think it is going to be a great game," she said. "To be fair to Manchester United they have been in really good form this season.
"I’m really excited to take them on. I think it’s going to be a great watch for the neutral as well. I’ve heard we’ve already sold almost 40,000 tickets, which is just crazy. So it will be a special day.
"Our team always has the pressure of been expected to win, but we cope with it well. I actually find that side of it exciting, particularly when you’re going up against a team that also is up at the top of the league.
"The atmosphere will be electric, it is a big stadium, but the crowd will feel intense. There haven’t been many times in my career where I’ve played in front of a crowd like that, so it is going to be huge.
"I’ve played in some of big crowds with the national team, but to have this on at club level, that is something I’ve never experienced before."
One of the most sought after young talents in the game, Fowler joined City in the summer from French side Montpellier. She was capped by Australia at the age of just 15 back in 2018 and will be hoping to help her country to glory on home soil at next summer's FIFA Women's World Cup.
Fowler's minutes in the league so far has mainly come in the form of substitute appearances, but she has impressed when given starts in the League Cup with three goals in as many games. And although it has taken some acclimatising, Manchester is starting to feel like home just months after making the move to England.
"It is very different from Montpellier," Fowler added. "A bit less sunshine here it’s far to say! But the main thing is I have felt so welcome from the first day, I've always felt part of the team even from the bench.
"Everyone here is so lovely. It’s one thing being given that warm welcome by your teammates, but it is also the staff, the cooks, the cleaners, the security people - everyone is so warm throughout the club. That has helped me a lot.
"It is important to me this club has that kind of environment and culture. This is why this has been the best decision for me.
"I miss the lifestyle of Montpellier a bit which was always going to happen, but the football was always the main focus and that's why I'm really enjoying my time here."
Gareth Taylor's team have yet to move away from their usual home of the Academy Stadium this season, last playing at the Etihad when United visited on the opening day of the 2019-20 season. But Fowler says they won't be using it as an excuse and believes they will immediately feel at home in the surroundings of the Etihad.
"As players I don’t think it will take much getting used to. At City, all the pitches are superb so we've nothing to worry about there.
"Throughout the team we have plenty of experience from all over the world and playing in different stadiums, so the conditions won’t be an excuse for us whatever the result."
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