Kristin Casparij is certain her first season at Man City has taken her game to a new level.
The Dutch defender, 22, arrived from FC Twente last summer, becoming a key part of Gareth Taylor's new-look side this season and is likely to head to the World Cup with her country this summer. City look set to miss out on a top-three finish and Champions League football next season, barring an unlikely goal swing to overhaul Arsenal on the final day.
But even if they have to settle for a fourth-place finish, Casparij has been one of the bright sparks for City this year, regularly impressing in her maiden WSL campaign. And she told Mirror Football the biggest difference between the domestic game in England from her native Netherlands, where she played all her club football prior, is the intense fitness levels required.
"I knew it would be a tough league and what to expect," Casparij said. "But the amount of running I've had to do and that we do in training, it really does amaze me. In the Netherlands we don't really do that, it's all focused on the technical side and working with the ball.
"They work us so much here on the fitness and strength side, it is a huge part of things, but that has been good for me. I've grown in that a lot and you need it for this league. But I did have to get used to it. On my second day at the club I did the MAS run, where you run for four minutes as fast as you can.
"I remember doing that thinking 'this will be easy.' After four minutes I was laid on the ground asking the physical coach, 'what in the world is this?' But I was very happy to get through it and over the course of the season it has taken my game to another level, because I'm just so much fitter than I was previously.
"But overall it's been really great. Both on and off the pitch. On the pitch I've developed massively I think. I've improved so much as a player since joining City."
Although still only 22, the full-back speaks with a maturity way beyond her years. But then growing up quickly has been a feature of her career. In fact, Casparij made her senior debut back in 2016 when only 15-years-old.
And she believes that has helped immensely with adapting to her new footballing landscape in rainy north-west England.
"That (playing from a young age) has helped me make the move over here," she added. "I think mentally I'm quite developed for age, even though I'm a big joker and stuff.
"But on the pitch, I've so much experience and been doing this for a long time and I've had to grow up really quick. The Dutch league used to be much older, particularly when I was coming through but that helped me develop quickly.
"When you play senior football, you're expected to be an adult and I have taken that with me to City and to England. And I'm loving life here, the weather's not great but I'm used to that!"
Regardless of this season's finale against Everton, Man City are likely to finish fourth due to Arsenal's superior goal difference. To a club that have won every major honour in the women's game, there may be some disappointment they didn't end the year with a trophy.
But City have still taken the fight until the final day of the season and Casparij believes they have plenty to take into next year, regardless of the outcome on Saturday.
"The Champions League would be massive of course," she added. "We'll do everything (against Everton) that we can in the next game and whatever happens, will happen. We won't look too much at what Arsenal do.
"We want it but I think either way we can progress well into next season. I think all the new signings from last summer all fit in really well and we'll have had an extra year together. The girls that were already here welcomed us all with open arms. So the team spirit is really strong.
"My game has developed a lot this last year and I'm very happy with the way we're heading."
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