EXCLUSIVE: ‘Nerves of steel’ – Katie Shanahan on Lioness Chloe Kelly’s superpower and England Euros triumph | OneFootball

Katie Shanahan

Katie Shanahan thinks Chloe Kelly might have a superpower – and as England reporter for ITV, she’s well placed to know.

Watching the team at close quarters in recent years led the broadcaster to ask an unusual question of the Lioness ahead of the Women’s Euros final between England and Spain over the summer.

“Things weren’t going right [for her] at Man City,” Katie tells SheKicks.net, “but for her to turn her life around and go, ‘I’m going to go to Arsenal, win the Champions League, and by the way, I’m going to step up to take that penalty again for England’ – well, she’s got nerves of steel, hasn’t she?

“I’ve spoken to her many times, and in the last interview I did with her just before the Euros final, we were talking about her penalty technique, and I said, ‘Do you feel as though you’re wired differently?’ And it’s the first time she’s actually been stumped on a question – because I was like, ‘I know you say pressure is a privilege, and you say all of these things that just come to you, but not everyone’s like you, Chloe. This is really special. This is a special talent you have to deal with that level of pressure.’

“And she goes, ‘Oh. Yeah. Maybe I am. Maybe I’m a bit different.’

“So Chloe Kelly may have a superpower that continues to live on in the Women’s Super League.

“The Chloe Kelly rise from where she was in January to Champions League to England Euros, the shin pads with her dogs and her husband – her trajectory is really exciting and something that should be celebrated because Chloe Kelly is the story for redemption and resilience and it also ties in with what the Lionesses are all about, not knowing when they’re beaten.

“The Lionesses are leading the way in global football, and I can’t wait to see where they can go.”

‘You have to switch on your work brain’

Katie has been enjoying some downtime after what she describes as “an absolutely incredible summer”.

She had the best possible vantage point as England won the Women’s Euros for the second consecutive tournament – something she describes as “a really special experience”.

“Whenever they reach a milestone, or you see Michelle Agyemang’s name up in lights becoming a household name, being so close and so part of it is not only inspiring, but it’s something that me and the ITV team that were with the Lionesses will stay with us for a very long time. So it’s going to be something that will live long in the memory, and I’m just privileged to be so close to it.”

Katie is an England fan, but as a reporter, she needs to be as objective as possible – and ask the tough questions when required.

“I remember when England went to penalties against Nigeria in the World Cup, and I was watching it as an England fan, and also an England reporter. You get lost in the moment. It’s quite emotional. You’re like, ‘Oh, gosh, England are going to get knocked out.’

“Then bang, straight, the whistle goes, and you’ve got to speak to them. What am I going to ask them?

Katie Shanahan in the tunnel ahead of the Women’s Euros final

“This time around, the moment Chloe Kelly was stepping up to take that penalty, and even when we had all the drama with the Sweden penalties, and the Michelle Agyemang equaliser and then obviously what happened after that, you have to remove yourself emotionally as an England fan. You have to switch on your work brain and think, ‘Right. What are the storylines? What’s each of these players’ stories? What’s their main talking points?

“Everything I ask, I’ve got to think, ‘Is this fair?’ In that England v Italy game, [it looked like England would] go home, and I was thinking, ‘I’m going to have players in tears.’ I remember speaking to Millie Bright after the World Cup final, and she came over, and she was bawling her eyes out, and therefore, you’ve got to be really delicate with how you ask questions because you don’t want them to get angry. You don’t want to make them upset even more. You’ve got to see them as a human being, first of all.

“Your tone is really important. You’ve got to be quite gentle and just feel your way through an interview, and the best interviews are ones you don’t actually plan for. Those England-Sweden penalties, I didn’t get a chance to prep any of those, and you have to just feel your way.”

She adds: “When Chloe Kelly was stepping up to take that penalty, I said to the producer, ‘Come on. Let’s make our way down [pitchside]. She’s scoring this.’ Already I was planning what I was saying, because the work brain goes on and you go, ‘This is a historic moment.’

“When I look back on that, I probably didn’t soak it up as much as probably everyone else in the stadium, because I’m too busy thinking, ‘What are the four questions I’m going to have to speak to Chloe Kelly about?'”

Katie recalls sitting on the pitch after the final, as the stadium emptied, and the players enjoyed some photo opportunities with their families.

“I actually went and just sat in a seat in the stands and just looked out, and they were already sweeping the confetti away and getting the lawnmowers out, and I was like, ‘Wow.’

“I just had a few minutes to myself, let it all sink in, but you have to do it because your adrenaline is going through the roof.”

“The WSL needs a real title race”

Now Katie is all set for the upcoming Women’s Super League season, hoping that the Lionesses success will have an impact on domestic competition.

“That winning mentality within each of the Lionesses players when they go back to their clubs, they will feel that, and that confidence,” she says.

She is also intrigued to see how the newly-promoted side will fare in the top flight.

“London City Lionesses, I think, will raise a couple of eyebrows. I’m excited to see how they go on.”

And she wonders if newly-crowned champions of Europe Arsenal will challenge Chelsea’s dominance for the title.

“Chelsea, six in a row. Sonia Bompastor is a brilliant manager. She’s very impressive. But Arsenal, you just think after that Champions League win: is the belief ingrained now? They’re hungry to really push Chelsea and end that dominance.

“That’s what maybe what the WSL needs: a real title race, battling all the way and you can’t call it.

“It should be an exciting season. I can’t wait for it.”