In The Spotlight: Michelle Betos

The last 12 months has been a big one for American goalkeeper Michelle Betos.

Starting regularly for one of the biggest women's football sides in the world, the Portland Thorns, the 27 year-old took advantage of her opportunities with strong performances in between the sticks earning her the National Women's Soccer League 2015 Goalkeeper of the Year.

Following in the footsteps of her Thorns goalkeeping teammate Nadine Angerer, Betos has headed to Australia for the summer for some W-League action. Shell Barratt caught up with the Sky Blues custodian to find out how the Australian experience is going.

ON THE PITCH

Sydney FC had a tough start to the season with a couple of heavy losses. What was going through your head at that time?

"This is going to be a long season." - Just kidding. I think the overriding personal response was the realization that I was definitely going to be tested this season- physically and mentally.

Although as a goalkeeper, you never want to lose or see the ball hit the back of the net, games like that are big learning experiences from an individual standpoint, but also in regards to your role as an organizer, and the tactical information you are providing.

As a team collectively, I think those performances hit hard, and inspired the drive to put them behind us. We have played better each week, and if we have the success we hope to this year, I think we will be able to attribute some of that to those hard learned lessons early on.

Last round Sydney FC secured a crucial 3 points on the road moving up the table from 8th to 2nd. In such a tight table, what is the team's ultimate goal? Who are Sydney targeting as key wins?

Our ultimate aim is to win the grand final. No one comes in expecting or working towards anything else. With saying that though, it is about each individual game, and having a complete focus on our challenges in the present.

We need to play well each week and focus on the game at hand. That is all we can control, and if we do that, I think we will be in a good spot at the end of the regular season.

Who is the Sydney FC player to watch as we move into the second half of the 2015/16 season?

We have a talented squad, so it is hard to pick just one. Something I have noticed throughout the first half of the season is that Sydney FC succeeds when we have complete team performances.

If you look at the games we have won, it hasn't been about one spectacular individual but rather the group as a whole. I think in order to continue to get results, those are the kinds of performances we will need to have.

Are there any personal goals or development areas you are hoping to achieve with Sydney FC and the W-league in general?

As a goalkeeper, game time and game experience are immensely important.

My biggest reason for coming here after the NWSL season was to continue to play competitive matches. It enables me to grow and learn and better myself.

There's so many facets of my game that I am working on in my individual sessions, team training and in the gym, but there are just certain elements of goalkeeping that can't be replicated except in live, 11 v 11, action. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to do that here.

Coming from the NWSL, how does the W-league compare in terms of competitiveness, physicality and tactical play?

I think there are a ton of similarities and differences between the two leagues from what I've seen thus far. The thing I really enjoy about both the NWSL and W-league is the parity of each team. Very often in other leagues, there is a clear favorite and underdog entering each match. In the US and here in Australia, you genuinely don't know who will come out as the victor. That's exciting and requires us to put our best foot forward every game day.

From team to team in each league, the tactical approach is different. Some teams will rely more on athleticism and bypass the midfield in order to play longer balls, whereas others will try to build and play more. That seems to differ within both environments based on coaching, personnel and philosophy.

OFF THE PITCH

How are you enjoying your time in Australia? Any culture shock moments?

I am really enjoying this beautiful city, and am relishing the weather until it gets to the "40s". I feel like I run into culture shock almost every day. I think its so funny how both Australians and Americans speak "English", yet I find myself struggling with a language barrier.

The terminology in every day life is so different, Jaz and I are constantly looking at each other for some kind of translation.

Don't even get me started on Sunny Franco! I also passed by a "Koala Crossing" sign on the side of the road which isn't exactly something you see in the US.

Do you have any superstitious playing or game day habits?

I am definitely a creature of habit. I have certain exercises, routines, and things that I do every single day. They are altered a bit for game day, but in general I'm pretty consistent with my practices.

I'd go into more detail, but my teammates already think I'm a "crazy American" so I'm not going to give them anymore reasons to back that up.

If you could pick a player (or two), who in world football would you least like to have lined up to take a penalty against you?

Never really thought about it but off the top of my head, I'd say Pirlo because I distinctly remember a PK he took against England where he sold the GK one way and calmly chipped it down the middle.

Favourite musician/ band?

My favorite bands are probably Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts.

Who is the goalkeeper you most respect and why?

On the men's side I would say Tim Howard and Keylor Navas. I love Tim Howard's passion, aggressiveness and the way he commands and interacts with his defense. I

really respect Keylor Navas and love watching him play because he has such a strong faith and he seems so authentic on the field. He's extremely talented, but has also had to overcome a tremendous amount of adversity to become the #1 keeper for Real Madrid.

On the women's side I would say Nadine Angerer. She's an incredible goalkeeper, and has done almost everything you could hope to do in the game. She played into her late 30's and seemed like she genuinely enjoyed it every day. In the time that I played with her, she invested in me, and my career, and I'm really grateful for that.

Plans to return to Australia next season?

There are so many factors that go into playing overseas etc. so I can't ever say for sure, but I'd love the opportunity to be back here again.