Lyon Coach Sonia Bompastor: “We Are the Best Team in the World”
On Saturday, Barcelona and Lyon will face off in the Champions League final in Bilbao. For Lyon head coach Sonia Bompastor, this is a chance to solidify her team’s reputation as the best in the world.
Lyon has a long history of dominance in the competition, with eight titles since 2010 and a total of 11 finals appearances. This year, they will once again take on Barcelona, who they have defeated in both of their previous Champions League finals meetings.
“We are a team that has won a lot in the past,” Bompastor said in a pre-match press conference. “But we remain really ambitious. For me, we are the best team in the world and will continue to be no matter what happens tomorrow.”
Despite Lyon’s previous victories over Barcelona in the competition, Bompastor expects a tough match this time around, noting the Catalans’ new signings and the ever-changing nature of finals football.
“Each final brings with it a different story,” she explained. “It will be a totally different game tomorrow.”
Barcelona will be looking to claim their first-ever victory against Lyon, after falling short in their recent finals appearances. Lyon captain Wendie Renard acknowledged that Barcelona has evolved as a team, but stated that Lyon knows their opponents well and is ready to give their all.
“In the last 10 years, we have shown that we have a great team and a lot of determination,” Renard said. “Winning as many titles as possible is what motivates us every day.”
The potential return of Lyon’s talismanic striker Ada Hegerberg adds another exciting element to the match. Hegerberg, who has won the Champions League six times with Lyon, has been absent from the team recently but is back in full training and eager to start.
Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Jonatan Giráldez believes that his team’s evolution over the past season has prepared them for this moment, as they aim to prove themselves as the best team in Europe.
“What we have to do tomorrow is prove that we want to be the best team in Europe,” Giráldez stated. “That is the ambition.”
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí stressed the importance of defending early on in the match, while also expressing the team’s confidence and desire for victory.
“Tomorrow we start 0-0,” Bonmatí said. “As the coach said, we are the two best teams in the world.”
This match holds extra significance for both teams, as their coaches will be leaving their respective clubs after the season. Giráldez will become the new head coach of Washington Spirit in the NWSL, while Bompastor is set to be announced as the new Chelsea head coach next week.
Both teams will be aiming for glory in what is sure to be an exciting and hard-fought final. As Bompastor said, “We are the best team in the world and will continue to be no matter what happens tomorrow.”
Kosport Magazine’s Take
This final sees two of the best women’s football teams in the world go head to head, with both Lyon and Barcelona having their own motivations and dreams of victory. While Lyon’s dominance in the competition is undeniable, Barcelona will be determined to secure their first Champions League title.
Whichever team comes out on top, we can look forward to an intense and high-quality match between two top-class teams.
