Georgia Stanway on life at Bayern Munich after serenading her German team-mates

When Georgia Stanway stood on a table and picked up the microphone for her Bayern Munich initiation, there was only one song she could sing.

Just 12 days after England had beaten Germany in the Euro 2022 final, Stanway belted out ‘Sweet Caroline’ – the song the Lionesses had celebrated to – in front of her new team-mates, many of whom had been on the losing side.

Stanway, though, insists they saw the funny side. ‘I wasn’t going to sing that song but when I got up there I thought this is the best way to show who I am and I just want to have a bit of fun.

‘But I’ve not heard the end of it yet. I sang it again on a balcony in the city centre when we lifted the [league] trophy and it was the worst version of Sweet Caroline you’ve ever heard. It will be remembered.

‘There was a slight delay between my microphone and the tv because in person it really wasn’t that bad but then when you listen back to it, it was…..the recording equipment mustn’t have been right.’

When Georgia Stanway stood on a table and picked up the microphone for her Bayern Munich initiation, there was only one song she could sing

The England star’s joke was well received by her team-mates seven of whom play for Germany 

Thankfully most of Stanway’s team-mates speak perfect English as the midfielder has not yet managed to grasp the German language.

‘Terrible,’ Stanway says of her lessons. ‘I’ve seen a quote which says ‘life’s too short to learn German’ and I completely agree. I have two lessons a week and my teacher keeps saying ‘it’s going to click, it’s going to click’ but nearly 12 months in and there’s no click yet!’

Much has been made of England’s possible knockout route, with the potential of a quarter-final against Germany should both teams win their groups and progress from the last 16. So has Sarina Wiegman been picking her brains about what to expect from her Bayern team-mates?

‘To be fair Sarina probably knows everything already, she probably knows more than me!’ Stanway laughs.

‘She’s a genius that way. I think we could meet them in the quarters if things go to plan. That could be interesting. I’ll probably have to stay off my phone that week!’

Stanway was lured to Bayern by the chance of a fresh start and a new challenge after seven years with Manchester City. After a tough start, the midfielder was instrumental in their title-winning season and believes she has developed a consistency to her game that will only help her at this summer’s World Cup.

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‘The first game I really struggled. We played Frankfurt away and I couldn’t get on the ball and gave away a few fouls. I wasn’t getting any kind of rhythm in my game. Obviously first game nerves you want to try and turn up, you want to be the hero, which is normal……but since then I’ve gained consistency.

‘My technical actions are much more consistent and my range of passing is massively improved. I’ve kind of developed more of a second No 6 role which is kind of the role I played in the Euros where I could join in the attack if I wanted to but then, when we were defending, I was expected to be the second No 6.

‘It’s about being more comfortable in that role, knowing what your options are, where you’re expected to go.’

Stanway’s midfield partnership with Keira Walsh is arguably one of the strongest at this World Cup. The pair came through the ranks at Blackburn before both moving to Manchester City. This summer saw them both take up new challenges, with Walsh moving to Barcelona as Stanway headed to Germany.

‘I just feel like I know her really well, we’ve played together for about 10 years, you expect it to be good when you’ve been together for that long,’ Stanway says.

‘We just know how the other works. I know when Keira’s looking for something and the position she picks up dictates the one I take up.

‘I think she understands that I like to do a bit of the dirty work and get a tackle in and vice versa, I know she likes to play the million dollar pass. I’ll give her the ball and let her work her magic so we just complement each other very well.

Stanway will be hoping for similar success at the World Cup – which gets underway on July 20

Stanway’s partnership with Keira Walsh is arguably one of the strongest at the World Cup

Much has been made of England’s possible knockout route, with the potential of a quarter-final against Germany should both teams win their groups and progress from the last 16

‘With the likes of Fran (Kirby) who was in front of us in the Euros and Tooney [Ella Toone] it just kind of frees them up to do what they do and play however they play because they know anything they miss me and Keira are behind them.’

Stanway won her 50th England cap in the warm-up game with Portugal and at the age of just 24, is one of the more senior players in the Lionesses’ squad. The midfielder believes moving to a new country has helped her grow on and off the pitch.

‘You kind of develop as an individual. Me going to Germany I’ve developed so much on and off the pitch. On the pitch I’ve got so much more responsibility. I have like a leadership role which I never expected to happen in such a short space of time.

‘In terms of the way I am as a person I’m just so much more open. I went to a country where no one knew who I was and I’d never met anyone I was with before and I could be whoever I wanted to be and no one was going to judge me for that. I think that’s so important in a football environment to just be you.’

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