‘I’m learning so much’ – USWNT star Mewis admits ‘keeping up’ has been a challenge at Man City

U.S. women’s national team midfielder Sam Mewis has been impressed by how much she’s learned tactically during her stint at Manchester City. 

Mewis left the NC Courage of the NWSL to link up with City in August and has settled into a regular role for Gareth Taylor’s side.

The World Cup-winning midfielder has started all seven of City’s Women’s Super League matches thus far, scoring two goals in the process. 

Mewis has also already won a trophy with City as she started and scored in the FA Cup final against Everton earlier this month, with Taylor’s side emerging as 3-1 winners.

On a call with reporters ahead of the USWNT’s friendly against the Netherlands on Friday, Mewis said she’s impressed by the level she’s seen in England.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in England so far,” Mewis said on Monday. “I think that the WSL is a great league and it’s clearly getting more and more competitive.

“I have really enjoyed my teammates, they’ve been so welcoming and I feel like I’m learning a lot from them and really being challenged on a technical and tactical level to get down to these fine details and make sure I’m keeping up.

“All the girls are so technical and can really just ping the ball one-touch at speed so it’s been really fun for me and a big challenge and I’m excited to continue with them.”

The 28-year-old said she has been especially impressed by the tactical level at City, saying she’s been able to learn plenty of new things under Taylor. 

“I feel like I’m learning so much tactically,” Mewis said. “My coach talks a lot about positional play and so I’m really learning how to perfect those fine details of where I should be when this player has the ball, when should I check to my own center backs to get the ball, when should I run in behind.

“I think for the first time in my career I’m really trying to learn how to read the other team. I feel like that’s something in my game that I’ve wanted to improve on and I’m really trying to pay attention to that and take that with me to the national team.”

Mewis is taking her first professional steps outside of the NWSL and is particularly grateful to be able to do so at a time when many of her USWNT teammates won’t be in a club environment again until NWSL camps open in February.

“I have never played outside the country before in a league so it was always something I wanted to experience in my career,” the midfielder said. “To get to do it now is especially exciting because I’m getting a lot of games during what’s been an uncertain and weird time.

“It’s an important time in my career where I still have a lot I want to learn but I want to be performing at a high level all the time, so I think it’s been really great for me and exciting to be able to experience it especially at a club as great as Man City.”