Corey Whelan on Arizona, versatility and playing the Liverpool way

Liverpool youngster Corey Whelan is cutting a path in America.

The defender left the Reds and signed with USL side Phoenix Rising in 2019 and is in the middle of his second season with the Arizona outfit.

Rush The Kop got nearly 30 minutes with Ireland U21 international, and this is part one of a three part interview.

This interview covers Corey Whelan’s initial adjustment period in the States, his versatility, the heat, and why Phoenix are more like Liverpool then you might think.

You’ve played most of your games at right-back, but have started every game in 2020 as a centre-back. Was that the plan?

Yeah pretty much, it’s been, for the last two years, I’ve pretty much switched between the two. It’s something in my game that’s a string to my bow that I can play in a lot of different positions, which helps.

This year, I came in last year and I came in mind that I would play as a right-centre half – Phoenix let me know pretty early.

In the semis last year I played at right-back and it’s something I don’t rule out because I can play in both positions and it’s something I enjoy very much.

Does that give you an extra sense of security within the team?

Yeah definitely, it helps. There’s no guarantee every week that you’ll be in the XI – that’s down to you and your form and training. It definitely helps, because you’re not just tied down to one position. If you can play a number of positions you become trusted by the manager, you come reliable and versatile and that definitely helps.

Honestly I don’t think the first time I was here I ever did (get used to the heat)

Is that where you see your future, at central defence?

Yeah I think so, it’s hard to say because some managers might see you play games at right-back and like the look of you there, some managers might see you developing as a right centre-half. When I go into a game or training I make sure I’m ready physically and mentally to play wherever I’m told.

You mentioned that it’s physically demanding, you’re playing out in Arizona, does the heat ever get to you?

Yeah it’s a big factor. You speak to anyone who comes to Phoenix, whether they play here, or train here on a regular basis, or just come here for two games a year there’s definitely a different feel when you come here and play here. We get the, I say privilege, but it’s not almost a privilege, but at least we get to adapt our bodies to it on a day-to-day basis.

The heat’s a big factor, mentally you’ve got to get up for the game, and physically it drains you a lot quicker. But, we’ve been doing it now week-in-week out and the lads have adapted to it, we’ve got our bodies in shape.

How long did it take you to adapt?

Honestly I don’t think the first time I was here I ever did. I was here from August to November, and it seems a long time does three months, but when you’re not used to it, I definitely found it tough at the start. I had to get myself match fit because I’d come off a break when I left Liverpool in May, so I got myself as fit as possible and when games start coming around you get yourself match fit.

This year I came back for preseason and I got back to where I wanted to be and then we were hit with a difficult situation in the pandemic, so it was just about using the time to get as close to match fit as possible.

You mentioned Phoenix play some nice attacking football, was that made them attractive? Because you’d come from playing nice, attacking football at Liverpool. 

Yeah it was. I spoke to the manager and Peter Ramage, when he was around the club, and they sold it to me and said ‘we like to press teams, we like to be on the front foot’ and for the years I was at Liverpool that’s all we really knew. We were taught not to hold back, to press every blade of grass and I think that’s what Phoenix do, you know we make make teams feel uncomfortable, especially when they come to our place.

Since I’ve been here I’ve seen the team progress and individuals progress and yeah it’s been really good and I think they are similar in the way they want to play.

I was in an environment of Liverpool that was very intense and things are ask of you physically everyday, whether that be in the gym or on the pitch.

We’ve started to see a little bit of movement from America to England, are you confident that route will be open to you in another couple of years?

The MLS is a league that’s getting better and every year you see it attracting bigger players. It’s something I could never rule out, but at this moment in time my time and efforts are with the Phoenix. The next move for me is going to be one where I want to progress my career and sign for a club who has an interest in playing me.

I’m just interested because you see players in leagues like the A-League openly stating their desire is to play well and secure a move to Europe. Is that the culture in the USL?

In my opinion, Europe is where everybody wants to be. The MLS has its demands and it’s a really good league with really good players. Speaking to lads in America, they’d never turn down the chance to go to Europe, in whatever league or country.

I feel like America has it’s other sports that outshine football, and in Europe and England football is all you know growing up. I can’t speak for everybody but I can’t rule out both, there’s loads that go into a negotiation – whether it’s right for you or whether you want to go back to your family.

Americans are probably looking at Alphonso Davies and Christian Pulisic thinking why can’t that be me.