Safia Middleton-Patel says she has taken confidence from Lucy Bronze after the England and Chelsea full-back opened up on living with autism and ADHD.
Euro 2022 winner Bronze discussed the impact of the diagnoses with former Lionesses team-mate Alex Scott in March.
Wales and Manchester United goalkeeper Middleton-Patel – who revealed in 2023 that she had been diagnosed with autism – says she has taken inspiration from 131-cap international Bronze’s openness on the subject.
“Lucy Bronze, ever since I was at the Liverpool academy, I’d always look up to her,” Middleton-Patel said on 5 Live Sport.
“We’re not the same, the diagnosis isn’t the same, but we’re the same person in a high-level sporting environment.
“For her to come out, it gives me more confidence, it gives me an idol.
Middleton-Patel found herself firmly in the spotlight at the age of just 18 as she made both her club debut on loan at Coventry United and her senior international bow for Wales in the same week in February 2023.
But the whirlwind period proved overwhelming for the young shot stopper who sought help after admitting she “couldn’t function” in the aftermath of the two landmark occasions.
“I was 18 and I was at United’s academy. There was one week in particular that I just hit a brick wall,” she added.
“I made my Championship debut with Coventry, a couple of days later I made my debut with Wales in the senior squad. I remember flying home and it just felt like everything crashed around me.
“I couldn’t function, I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t regulate my temperature.
“I remember sitting on my bed crying and my mum came in and said ‘what’s happening? ‘. The first thing I said was ‘I need help’.
“I was being so hard on myself and struggling with simple daily activities. I said ‘I think there’s something wrong with me’ but now I look at it, there was nothing wrong with me, it was just the way my brain worked. “
Middleton-Patel has featured just once for Manchester United this season, with her sole appearance for Marc Skinner’s side this term coming in the League Cup.
She recently made her third international start, producing a string of vital saves as Wales earned a highly-impressive 1-1 draw with Sweden in Gothenburg in the Nations League.
The 21-year-old is now vying for selection at the upcoming Euro 2025 tournament in Switzerland, where Rhian Wilkinson’s Wales face Netherlands, France and defending champions England in the group stage.
And Middleton-Patel says she is relishing locking horns with neighbours England this summer.
“I’m just happy. I am excited but I don’t want to get too excited,” added Middleton-Patel.
“I’m trying to keep cool, but I’m just so proud to be Welsh.
“When we got that draw, we were all ecstatic. It’s one thing going to the Euros, but it’s another thing playing the champions and team-mates.
“Mary [Earps] is probably one of my biggest inspirations and to possibly play her, it’ll be unreal. “
Related topics
- Wales Women’s Football Team
- Football
- Women’s Football
Source: BBC
Leave a Reply