"I wanted her in my senior leadership team, I wanted her opinions," Morgan said.
Morgan emphasized that naming her vice-captain served as a "big sign of respect" for her role within the squad.
"You would not make someone vice-captain if you felt you did not have a good relationship with them," Morgan said.
However, the court heard that Morgan previously told the Football Association that Cusack was "generally a liar" who "omitted a lot of information" when discussing his coaching conduct with her family.
Morgan recalled feeling "anxious on a number of fronts" upon taking the managerial role because the club faced an intense relegation battle.
He noted that if his hiring had been a "big issue," the player could have expressed her concerns directly to the administration.
He stated they had spoken a "number of times" at matches since 2019, including a phone conversation in May 2023 regarding her career advancement.
"On face value, I couldn't take anything other than she was happy and positive," Morgan said.
The manager later raised concerns that Cusack was "not well" in August 2023, prompting him to ask club doctor Subhasis Basu to check on her, though he denied suspecting she was at risk of "self-harm or suicide."
Morgan confirmed he took "comfort" in knowing the medical staff, whom he considered "very good" and "experienced," had established a plan with her.
Following a missed practice session on September 6, 2023, Cusack later informed him she was taking time away from football following a GP visit, which she thought might "potentially" allow her to return for a match later that month.
