Denise O’Sullivan is yet to take the pitch for Gotham FC, but the Irish international midfielder already feels comfortable in her new surroundings.
The 32-year-old addressed the media on Friday, having recently arrived from Liverpool on a one-year loan with an obligation for a permanent transfer.
Why O’Sullivan Is Already Convinced That Gotham FC Was the Right Choice
“I already think I made the right decision, and I’ve only been here a week,” O’Sullivan stated. “I spoke to Yael [Averbuch West] and Juan [Carlos Amorós] weeks ago, and I was really impressed with my initial meetings with them.
“There were a number of factors why I chose this club. The players are world-class, most of them are internationals, the team has a winning mentality and a history of winning. What the club is doing itself and the growth of Gotham is paving the way for women’s soccer in the United States. To see 42,000 people come out the other night just shows the growth of women’s soccer in the U.S. I’m confident that I’ve already made the right decision.”
O’Sullivan previously won two NWSL championships with the North Carolina Courage in 2018 and 2019. The Cork, Republic of Ireland native is motivated to help Gotham repeat at NWSL champions and is eager to compliment the Bats’ lineup of decorated stars.
“This team already has tons and tons of experience, so for me it’s about adding to that and continuing to be successful,” she said. “My experience of winning, being in big games and being able to control and dictate games when they matter is something I can bring.
“I also want to bring my leadership. I’ve been vice captain with Ireland and captain of the Courage for three years. I’m a player who likes to hold herself accountable, and I bring high standards to training every single day. For me, it’s about adding to what this team already has and continuing to help make this team successful.”
O’Sullivan Embraces Gotham’s Team-First Mentality
With stars like Rose Lavelle, Sam Kerr, Jaedyn Shaw and Guro Reiten driving Gotham’s offense, O’Sullivan is more than happy to put in the less heralded, physically demanding work.
“I’m someone who doesn’t like the spotlight,” O’Sullivan admitted. “I don’t need the acclaim or the compliments. I don’t mind being behind the scenes doing the work for the team. Let somebody else score the goals, and I’ll do the dirty work. That’s fine with me.”
But at Gotham, every outfield player fully embraces their defensive duties with gusto in a team-first ethic.
Amorós Praises O’Sullivan’s Quality and Mental Attributes
Amorós believes that it will take a little time for O’Sullivan to adjust to Gotham’s high-energy system, which demands frequent shifting between positions.
“It will take her some time to really understand everything we do, but with the experience and qualities she has, she still needs time to adapt,” Amorós explained. “She’s known for her hard-working traits and her energy, but there’s much more football there than just the things that stand out.
“It’s also her quality, her technique, her reading of the game, how she manages the balance of the team, her distribution of play and her awareness of space. She’s such a great player that, even though she hasn’t played for a while, we’re going to start seeing glimpses of those qualities straight away, and it will keep growing from there.”
Saturday Match Against Seattle Could See O’Sullivan Make Her Gotham Debut
O’Sullivan could make her first appearance for Gotham in Saturday’s noon match against Seattle Reign FC.
“I’m excited to be here and excited for the game tomorrow,” she said. “Every game in this league is very tough, but as the girls know, we’re well prepared and ready to go.”
Saturday’s contest will take place at Icahn Stadium. ABC will carry the national broadcast.
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