The Big Interview: Laura Coombs
The Big Interview: Laura Coombs
At 33, Laura Coombs has played for some of the biggest WSL clubs and last year made a return to the England after seven years. She discusses the title race, her renaissance and much more with WFC...
“Yeah…we’re disappointed,” admits Manchester City midfielder Laura Coombs, just 48 hours after her side gave up two late goals against Arsenal which would have moved them within a point of just a second Women’s Super League title.
Compounded later in the day by Chelsea’s 8-0 win against Bristol City which has now wiped out their goal difference differential, a win on Wednesday night against Tottenham will put Emma Hayes’ side top and in the box seat for a fifth successive title heading into the final day of the season on Saturday, and Hayes’ farewell to the league.
“We went in like we have every other game this season,” continues the 33-year-old. “We went into win and went in feeling confident and…honestly, I thought we were going to get the win, even at 85 minutes, so yeah, we did leave a little bit dejected after it.
“Gaz was right with what he said after the game, we have to just go into the last game and just try and score as many goals as possible, hopefully get the win and see what happens.”
She laughs when I mention she did score twice herself at Villa Park at the start of the 2022-23 campaign, and although a repeat of the 4-3 defeat that day would leave them empty-handed, the game itself was part of a renaissance for Coombs who was brought in from Liverpool by former head coach Nick Cushing in 2019.
“The icing on the cake would be to win the league here because this is a club where I’ve played the most, feel like I’ve had the biggest impact and certainly the closest-knit group I’ve been a part of…”
Cushing saw Coombs’ combative midfield style and ability to both attack and defend as the natural heir to Jill Scott, but being behind the senior England international, as well as Keira Walsh, Caroline Weir and Georgia Stanway, saw Coombs make just four league appearances in her first season, a combined tally of just 102 minutes.
When Taylor took over for the 2020-21 season, Coombs started 13 games and scored in the Manchester derby, but it was the 2021-22 season after a summer which saw all of Walsh, Weir and Stanway depart which gave Coombs her chance to shine in the midfield permanently.
In the subsequent two seasons leading up to the current campaign, Coombs featured in 38 of the club’s 44 league games and scored nine goals.
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“The first year I didn’t really play, which was tough,” she admits. “Since Gaz has been here, he’s always told me what I need to do to play, he’s always made that quite clear.
“I’ve had a lot of opportunities, there’s been downs as well as ups, the first half of this season I barely featured and that was tough, particularly coming off the back of last season. But I think in myself if I come and do what I can do you’ll always get your opportunities.”
When I ask if the period has been a “whirlwind” for her, there’s the added context of a return to the England squad too.
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