Blindkilde Brown: Australia tour will focus minds ahead of season

Manchester City F.C.

·20 August 2024

Blindkilde Brown: Australia tour will focus minds ahead of season

Laura Blindkilde Brown believes City’s upcoming tour of Australia will help the whole squad focus on where we have to be for the start of the new season.

City set off for Perth today with just over a month until we get our Barclays Women’s Super League campaign under way at Arsenal.

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Once we land in Western Australia, the players will have almost a week’s worth of training before our first match in the Perth International Cup against Leicester City at 11:15 (UK) on Wednesday 28 August.

Depending on the result of that fixture, we’ll either face Paris Saint-Germain or West Ham United at the same venue on Sunday 1 September.

Both matches will be globally available to watch on mancity.com and our official app with a CITY+ subscription.

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Having reported back for pre-season last month, it’s a long time for our players to get in shape for the new term.

However, Blindkilde Brown says playing other clubs will see preparations step up a level.

“Going to Australia will definitely help, especially the two games out there against strong opponents,” she said.

“That should focus the mind and get us back in the swing of playing matches. When we come back, we’ll have more games to make sure we’re ready to go when the season starts.

WATCH: Training: Back to business on return to CFA

“That’s all about getting minutes in the player’s legs and seeing what works within the team, so I think that will make sure we’re properly prepared.”

While in Australia, the players will spend every day together on and off the training pitch.

Our young midfielder feels it’s vital that everyone gets to know their team-mates better.

“It’s really important to have that time together to settle in together, get to know each other off the pitch and form relationships,” she stated.

“That helps through the season when it’s busy and there’s a lot of games and pressure.”

City head to Australia knowing it’s a country that is constantly growing when it comes to women’s football.

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The 2023 World Cup was held in the country, with the Matildas reaching the final four before a defeat to England.

Blindkilde Brown can’t wait to take the WSL on a roadshow to the other side of the world.

She said: “It’s great to see how much Australia loves and back women’s football.

“Hopefully, this tour is a chance for people in Australia to come and watch our games and hopefully get involved with the WSL from there.”

WATCH: Watch: City Women’s 2023/24 season review

The 20-year-old arrived at City during last winter’s transfer window and her outstanding technical ability instantly made an impression on her team-mates and our fans early on.

Our squad has seen a lot of changes this summer, with five players arriving and six members of the senior side moving on.

Blindkilde Brown believes that competition for places will only make everyone work harder, including herself.

“At City, the levels are always really high,” she began.

“Anyone that comes in will be at a high level but we’ve seen this summer that they’re already pushing the level up because they’re such good players.

“Especially Viv coming in as a midfielder, she’s someone I look up to and can learn from. She’s raised the standards and everyone can see that.

“Competition is always a good thing because it pushes the standards even more.

“People are hungry to get into the team so they will give everything in every season. It also increases your confidence because you know if you are starting you deserve to be starting.”