Kerstin Casparij on her first Manchester derby & settling into life at Man City

Kerstin Casparij is adjusting quickly to life in Manchester.

The summer signing from FC Twente has started seven of Manchester City's first eight WSL matches, has her first Manchester derby on the horizon, and is working hard to perfect the Manchester accent.

There's one word in particular that she's nailed.

"To be honest I've been getting a little rusty, so I really do have to pick up the pace and get into it. I'm trying to up my game in the Manchester accent," Casparij told 90min. "Hopefully I'll come [up] with some other funny things other than just buzzin'," she added, putting some extra Mancunian emphasis on the final word.

Moving away from her native Netherlands to a new country at the age of just 22 to join City could be a daunting experience for many. But Casparij has been forced to mature quickly, after being thrust into the Heerenveen senior team at the age of just 15.

"It was very weird for me because I was 15 and basically a child," she laughed. "I was with girls who were literally 14 years older than I was, so that makes you grow up really fast and different things get expected from you.

"And I think that has been great for me as a player but also as a person, and it really, really made me grow in every aspect of life. So I would recommend making your debut at a young age!"

Having left home before her 17th birthday when she made the switch from Heerenveen to VV Alkmaar, starting a new life in England was something she was able to take in her stride.

"The first time I moved out of my parents house I was 16 just turning 17 and I didn't have a car or even a licence at that time because I wasn't allowed to drive," the right back added. "So living three hours away with public transportation, having to live off barely any money, it really makes you grow up and learn about life.

"You just really have to become an adult at quite a young age, and that really shaped me into the person I am today. So having done all that, moving here was actually easy for me because I'm an adult now and I grew up."

City's style of play and the way Gareth Taylor saw her fitting into the team were big factors in the attack-minded fullback opting to make the switch to Manchester this summer.

Another attraction of the WSL for Casparij was the fans, who she has enjoyed interacting with both in the stands: "I always try and make time for them, because they travel so far even to our away games; I'm not used to that so I really appreciate it" - and on the streets of Manchester - "the other day a lovely lady came [up to me] with her child which was aw, just amazing. I had a little cuddle."

The 22-year-old is set to encounter swathes of supports on Sunday, as City take on rivals United at the Etihad. It's the club's third ever women's match at City's main stadium, and first since the opening day of the 2019/20 campaign, when United were again the visitors.

40,000 tickets have been sold for the occasion, and it is on course to set a new WSL attendance record for City, surpassing the figure of 31,213 who poured into the Etihad for the 2019/20 derby.

Having previously played all of her football in the Netherlands, where many of the rivalries in the men's game do not yet exist in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, it is the first time Caparij will have sampled a derby of such magnitude and on such a big stage.

"I've never experienced anything like the Manchester derby so coming here I didn't really know what to expect," she added. "The [only] real derby I've had is the one from Twente and Ajax, because they're the ones fighting for the title. But it's not necessarily a derby like in Manchester where you fight for who's the best in the city.

"Especially with the attendance and all the media around it and people are actually wanting to come and watch that game, I don't think there's actually anything like that in the Netherlands."

Despite the Manchester derby being in just its fourth year of existence in the WSL, it has already served up a series of iconic moments (with Caroline Weir responsible for a large chunk of them). From Weir's selection of wonder goals to a Tobin Heath-inspired United comeback in November 2020, it's a fixture that lives up to its billing - and Casparij's teammates have got her up to speed with what to expect.

"They mostly say it's just very intense, it's about the city, who's basically the best and gets to brag about that for a bit," she said. "I am so excited, I hope we see loads and loads of fans. I don't have any expectations other than wanting to win, so we'll see how it goes."

And how is Casparij feeling about stepping out at the Etihad for her Manchester derby debut?

"I'm going to be buzzin', as they would say."

Manchester City welcome Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday 11 December, for a 12:30 (UK) kick off. You can secure your tickets online by visiting: www.mancity.com/tickets/womens or by calling: +44 (0)161 444 1894. Tickets are from £8 for adults and £4 for concessions.