10 hours ago
'I didn't know whether I'd get back playing football' - Chloe Mustaki grateful for first Ireland start in three years
Republic of Ireland international Chloe Mustaki admitted that there was a time when she did not know whether she would be back playing football, let alone representing her country again, after featuring in the first of this week's two friendly games against the USA.
The Girls in Green lost 4-0 to the world number one side in Denver, Colorado in the early hours of Friday morning Irish time.
But beyond the result, it was a significant night for Mustaki as the 29-year-old bridged a three-year gap since her last start which had come all the way back in April 2022.
After the match, when asked by RTÉ soccer correspondent Tony O'Donoghue if she had believed that she would ever start in the green jersey again, Mustaki said: "Honestly, not really. About 15 months ago, I didn't know whether I'd get back playing football.
"So it's been a big year for me personally to be honest. I have a lot of people to thank as well. But I'm just really, really grateful and hopefully there will be more to come."
Mustaki, who overcame cancer earlier in her career, suffered a hip injury last year that kept her out for a number of months.
Starting at left back in the absence of the rested captain Katie McCabe, Mustaki played almost the entire match before being subbed off for Izzy Atkinson in stoppage time.
"First start in three years or just over three years, and first game in eight weeks so a pretty big shock to the system to be honest," said the Bristol City player.
"But a great opportunity for us to learn. These are the best in the world and you can see that. Obviously (the USA) are mid-season, so they're fit, they're sharp, they're ready to go.
"We've learned so much tonight and hopefully we'll learn more on Sunday as well."
The game was staged at high altitude which, along with the 30 degree Celsius temperature, added to the challenge for Carla Ward's team.
"It was pretty tough conditions especially in the first half but I thought we adapted pretty well," she said.
"Obviously, we've been here for the guts of a week so we've been training, trying to get used to it but you can't really prepare for those conditions, so all you can do is be your best, communicate, stay tight as a unit and we did our best tonight and hopefully we can improve for Sunday as well."
Ireland will have to absorb the lessons quickly with the second friendly against the USWNT to come on Sunday evening in Cincinatti, Ohio and goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, who wore the captain's armband for the first time on her 50th Girls in Green cap, had mixed emotions given the result.
"Obviously, not the result I or the team wanted so that's frustrating. But a really proud moment for myself to get my 50th cap and to lead the team out, it's a huge honour, so I'm very proud," said the New Jersey-born shot-stopper.
"We knew what the game was going to be. Best team in the world, you're going to be under the cosh sometimes so I tried to step up, wish I could have saved a few more.
"But it was a good effort, defensively at times from us. We switched off at times which is frustrating and disappointing for our standards and what we want but obviously we're learning from it and move onto the next one."
The Everton player added: "They're the best team in the world for a reason so we know the quality that they possess but I think we know the quality we have too and we showed that at moments tonight but maybe not enough, so we have to show them respect but we also need to do what we know we're capable of on the ball and defensively as well."
Caitlin Hayes also started and having had a bit-part role earlier in Ward's tenure, she relished greater involvement.
"Of course, it's just good to play football. I've obviously not played that much since my move to Brighton and obviously back in international," said the Brighton & Hove Albion defender.
"But I'm just grateful to play football, grateful to have an opportunity and long may it continue, fingers crossed."
On the task awaiting the Irish on Sunday in Ohio after the defeat in Colorado, Hayes added: "We know we can be better. We know we can turn up and get rid of those little mistakes and hopefully we can do better with the 4-0 and take our chances maybe a little bit better. But we're a team that's ready to go, we'll work on our chances and we'll hopefully take our opportunities in the next game."
