Ocean Rolandsen says making the move to Sheffield United from Watford has renewed her self-belief to reach the highest level of the women’s game.
Ocean Rolandsen on Gaining More Confidence After Sheffield United Move
Ocean Rolandsen Aiming to Reach the Highest Level
The 22-year-old headed to South Yorkshire on January 16 and feels she is on track to fulfil her ambition of playing in the Women’s Super League.
In a virtual press conference organised by Next Gen Sport Solutions, she said: “My long-term aim is to play at the highest level possible, and I’ve proved there is some substance about me after working my way back to playing in the Championship.
“I’ve always been a very hardworking player and feel my self-confidence has previously let me down a bit.
“Over the summer, I often doubted if I could go to a different club and make an impact, worrying if I’d be able to fit in.
“Now I’ve settled in at Sheffield, I see my worth as a player and the improvements I can make in myself to be at the highest level possible. My dream is to play Women’s Super League football, or at a professional level elsewhere. But everything at Sheffield is so professional, and hopefully, I can get promotion here because this team is outstanding.”
Ocean Rolandsen on the Race for Promotion
The Blades have a bit of work to do if they are to achieve promotion this campaign – they sit third in the Women’s Championship table with 25 points from 14 games and are seven points adrift of league leaders Leicester City having played one game more.
But the defender is staying level headed and says it is important not to look too far ahead with six games still left to play.
“It’s always tough at the top end of the Championship because teams are often separated by one or two points – even goal difference.
“We understand that it’s going to be very tough closing down teams like Leicester or Durham because they are a few points ahead of us, so we just have to take every game as it comes.
“As much as there is a bigger picture about catching up with the top two or gaining promotion for ourselves, at the same time you just focus week-in week out about how you can beat your next opponent.”
On Stepping Back up to the Women’s Championship
Rolandsen has stepped back up to the second tier after her previous spell with London Bees and highlighted the key difference from making the move up from Women’s National League football.
“I’ve found that once I’ve stepped back up into the Championship, there’s a difference between the pace of play.
“It’s just about getting back to the standard I was at with London Bees and continue to keep up with the girls’ fitness-wise, but I have settled back into that very well.”
The former Watford and Bees player explained how the standard of the Women’s Championship has improved in recent years and says the gap in quality between the second tier and the Women’s Super League is closing.
“I do [believe the gap is closing]. Over the last couple of years, it’s been quite slow in that sense, but having the likes of Liverpool and Leicester City in the Championship has fuelled everyone’s desire to improve.
“I feel that the gap is definitely closing.”
Main Photo
