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Extract from Joe Montemurro/Wendie Renard Press Conference (January 16, 2025)

It's a 30 minute press conference and I have a full time job and billable hours to meet so I can't/won't translate the whole thing especially before Saturday's game.

However, I also really like the discussion between Wendie Renard, Joe Montemurro and the journalist about intra-team dynamics, so I'm translating that part. You can always trust Lyon's resident Bad Catholic to have a decent philosophical chat.

Journalist: Moving on to a different topic. We thought at the beginning of the season it could be complicated internally for PSG. We get the impression that's less the case at Lyon. I'm sure there are issues in the locker room just like everywhere else but it seems like it's handled better. Who manages the team cohesion? Is it the club, it is the players, is it the coach? How do you do it so there isn't any fallouts like we've seen and see frequently like at Paris Saint-Germain?

Renard: [sighs] I want to say that what happens at PSG isn't really our problem in the locker room. Obviously it affects teammates in the French National Team [cf Geyoro vs Diani spat]. We sometimes have to talk about it when we're with the national team. But in any case, no, I think it's important to be conscientious that we are a team. We live together, we see each other more than we see our families. We have a pretty big team whether it be the staff, the players. So we see life differently, there are different personalities as well. You have to know how to respect each other. You have to know how to say things even if they aren't going to like it, but do it with respect. And then when there's a problem, you have to tear the bandaid off. You can't let it linger. And it lingers, then it's the role of the coach, the role of staff - the staff, the club, they consult with the leaders and we talk about it. We try to find the best solution so that everyone feels good. Because the only thing on our minds is to win trophies. I'm not here to have problems with anybody. I'm not here to like everybody. But if we like each other, if we appreciate each other, it's even better because we're going to spend more time together and we're going to - we'll learn different things about each other off the pitch so we can be even better on the pitch. That's my way of thinking about things. I think it's important for me personally that everyone feels good, that we get the best from each player to win games because that's what matters.

Journalist: Can you elaborate on what you mean by ripping off the bandaid? How do you handle tension? Is it something you try to defuse quickly?

Renard: I try to. After, the coach sees it as well. There are members on the Board of Directors who see it as well. And if it continues then it's the role of the club and the coach to step in. Then as players, the leaders, myself as captain, I also have an important role in that. I know my teammates, a little less the new ones who arrived but I know my teammates. I know the core of the team. And I think we are big people, big women. So it's up to us to hold ourselves accountable and say things to each other. And I don't want to hear any "they said" in life. "Someone said this." Who said that? Let's go see them and we'll sort things out. That's it. Simple as that.

Journalist: And you, coach? How do you feel about the spirit of the team? The fact that there is no fighting within the team?

Montemurro: Yeah, I understand what you're saying. The squad, the staff, the group, is a solid unit and outside noise, what happens outside, is not really of any concern to us. It's really about having a clear direction, having clarity on (A) the football and (B) the characteristics in this group. And the characteristics for me are humility, honesty, and to be selfless, to work for the team. And if we have those things as a base, each character has the opportunity to be part of this group. I think the biggest thing for me is that there's a real family that's been created over many, many years. So I can't take the responsibility. [Montemurro points at Renard] People like Wendie [Renard] and the people who have been here [for a long time] are the ones who have created what it is to be Olympique Lyonnais, what it is to be part of this family. And it's a special family. And I think that is always in the base in why the team has been so successful and why the team is a leader in women's football. So I can't really answer that. Wendie answered it perfectly because she understands what it means to be part of this club. And each player and everyone that comes into this group, whether you're a staff [member], whether you're a player, understands the importance of being part of this special organization.

Journalist: Is it easier for you to work in this atmosphere?

Montemurro: Absolutely. Absolutely because I think the biggest thing for me is clarify of everything, having a clear direction on what we want to do and how we can achieve that. And when that makes sense, there's no confusion. There's no confusion. And when you have this idea of going forward that everyone's on board, that we - obviously you have situations every once in a while, you sway a little bit here - I think there's a clear direction on leadership as well. There's a clear direction on what we want to do. And for me that makes it very, very easy.

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time can do something funny, it can change my mind

There was some pseudo uproar about Lyon sending Maeline Mendy and Liana Joseph out on loan. Some saw it as an outrage. I see it as a topic of conversation. So let's kick back on our couch with a glass of wine and, like, talk about it.

Look, I know my stance on academy players is super well documented by now. I don't think there should be a direct pathway between being a talented academy player and getting playing time with the pro team. I'm not alone in this. Selma Bacha, a Lyon academy product herself, has said there is a massive gulf between the talent pool in the academy and what it takes to get playing time. Don't believe me? Leave French and listening to the Twitter Space for yourself.

Just because you've performed extremely well with the U-19s does not mean that will automatically translate to the professional level. I think that's what really grinds my gears about this. Yes, Lyon's talent pool in the academy is really, really impressive. They have a good eye for young talent.

But that doesn't mean they necessarily have the level to make it as a professional player, and it also doesn't automatically mean they have the level to play for a team like Lyon. Might they, at some point, have the level? Maybe. We don't know. And while I am semi-sympathetic to the argument we won't know unless we give them a chance, I there is also a rather important counterargument to consider: why is it Lyon's responsibility to find out if they can make it or not?

Well, it's Lyon's academy who found them, for starters. Sure. And Lyon did give them all the tools to succeed. They gave them coaches and an environment specifically designed for them to succeed. They made them grow up in a culture where you are taught that a hatred of losing must be greater than a desire to win.

But here's the thing: that last sentence comes from being serial winners. Blood lust is innate. Either the thought of losing changes you or you are indifferent to it, there is no in between. Either you're already a killer or you'll never be one.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: you cannot be a team who competes for trophies and focus on developing academy players at the same time. There comes a time where you have to choose whether you want to win a UWCL trophy or you want to find out what the U-17s have to offer. The reality of the situation is a group of U-17s players are not going to win you the UWCL. They're just not.

To win the UWCL, to win domestic trophies, you need players with experience. You need players who have been in that situation before. And not only that, you need players who have been in multiple situations before. You need to know they know how to handle a situation and the reason you know they know how to handle it is because they have been there before. You don't get that kind of experience of problem-solving at the U-17 or U-19 level.

Teams who compete for trophies have to know how to handle pressure and expectations and the fact of the matter is, academy players don't. Experienced players don't. There's some pearl clutching ("but how do you know this???") but like, I know it because we've already been through this. We saw what happens when Lyon doesn't have experienced on the field. Just look at Lyon's results when half the normal starting line-up was out injured throughout the first half of the 2022-2023 season. This is what I find so frustrating. We have been here before and I for one am in absolutely no rush to live through that time period ever again.

Now, I also think it's worth talking about. If Lyon's results in that time period weren't so catastrophic - and let's be honest, they were - would Lyon's Board of Directors maybe be more lenient about giving academy players a chance? Maybe. But I do think there is lingering trauma about what happened in that 6-month period and I think that's why both Bompastor (who maybe was too lenient towards certain academy players) and Montemurro have become gun shy about giving academy players playing time.

I am bitterly opposed to the playoffs and will continue to bitch about them as long as they exist. But I also think they play a role in the lack of playing time for academy players. Right now Lyon has a 5-point lead over PSG. Depending on how the game goes on Saturday that could either go up to 8 points, stay the same, or drop down to two points. Now I know people will clutch their pearls and say the league is as good as over if Lyon wins on Saturday but if the game against Reims proved anything it's that Lyon can put us all on suicide watch at any time if they so desire. Yes, a 5-point lead is nice. But it is January 15th. There are a lot of games left to be played and Lyon can fail to close out a game if history proves itself to be accurate.

And that's the main thing, isn't it? Lyon isn't in a position to fuck around and find out. Playoffs reshuffle the deck but if you want home advantage throughout you need to finish first. The teams who made it out of the UWCL group stages have to be taken seriously in theory. I refuse to live through the 2022-2023 season again, and that means having your strongest squad on the pitch. It means not fucking around and finding out.

Numerically it makes sense. Does that make it fair to academy players? Not really. But as I said - blood lust is innate. Either you have it or you don't. You can't teach a player to have a killer instinct. I truly do believe that if the likes of Mendy or Joseph or even Benyahia - whom I have legitimate concerns about - have what it takes, then they will make it. But good lord it's not up to Lyon to find out if they will when Lyon is supposed to be competing for trophies.

"omg I can't believe you're snarking about Benyahia!'" Yeah, well, not only am I doing it, I'm doing it with ease. Do I think Benyahia has potential? Sure. But good lord do I have reservations about her. It makes me so incredibly nervous when a 21-year-old player says about themselves that no other player sees the game the way they do. Don't believe me? Plug it into Google Translate and/or learn French and Read it for yourself.

I don't want a player who thinks they are above the team. I don't want a player who thinks of themselves as a savior, I want a player who thinks the team saved them. Maybe it's morbid. Maybe I have a thing for broken players. It's not impossible. But I think Lyon works best when they operate under the assumption that burying bodies is a love language. I'm not sure how well they would take it if someone told them where/when to bury a body not of their own choosing.

The other thing which really frustrates me is people acting like Lyon isn't selective about what type of players they are willing to take a risk on. They're actually selective. But if Lyon is going to roll the dice on a young player then they're only going to do it they've already rigged the outcome. Let's talk, yeah? Lyon likes players they can mold into their own image. Lyon looked at Amandine Henry, at Ada Hegerberg, at Wendie Renard, at Selma Bacha and said "hey, let's talk, do you want to grab a cup of coffee?" Lyon was willing to gamble on them because they saw something in those players. No, that's not quite right. I think they recognized something in those players. Monsters recognize monsters.

So that's also why I am okay with Lyon taking a step back with academy players. I am okay with Lyon wanting someone else to find out if a player has what it takes to make it with the professional team. They get an answer either way: at best, Lyon passed on a player's growing pains to someone else, at worse, the growing pains were someone else's problems.

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please be honest, are we better for it? (Lyon - Reims Coupe de France Postgame Thoughts)

Yes, I am on a Gracie Abrams kick. Yes, I know "I Miss You, I'm Sorry" is an old song. Whatever. It's broody and depressing, which kind of sums up how I feel right now.

So, what did we learn today? A painful lesson which we already knew.

I'll concede the ref wasn't great and this team hates playing on artificial turf but neither of those excuse the performance in this game. Lyon played incredibly badly, especially in the first half. The passing was catastrophic, there was little to no press to the extent that Reims was actually bodying Lyon players. No one in their right mind should look at those first 45 minutes and say "this team / that player played well." Well, maybe if you're an unhinged stan you can say that, but rational people won't.

Lyon wasn't really at full strength but had a strong enough squad that they should never have lost on penalties. Benkarth will get a fair amount of blame and I think it's fair, but there's also a caveat. Some of the penalties could have been saved (top corner ones probably weren't going to be saved). She didn't score the deciding penalty, but that's basically Bouhaddi's specialty and not anyone else's. I don't think anyone can/should say with absolute confidence that Endler would have scored the winning penalty. I do think people can say Endler would have saved some of those penalties.

And look, there is a drop in quality between Endler and Benkarth. I think Lyon is a difficult situation when it comes to goalkeepers. Endler is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not the best. It's a genuine argument you can make. Realistically you're not going to bench a goalkeeper like Endler, which means the backup goalkeeper isn't going to be playing a lot. Which means you have to have a goalkeeper who is "okay" with not getting a ton of playing time, and no top goalkeeper is going to be okay with sitting on the bench. That's an issue. Because Lyon isn't going to let Endler sit on the bench, but your backup goalkeeper isn't going to be playing a lot, which in turn raises questions about the match day fitness of said backup goalkeeper.

Benkarth lacks confidence. The way you gain confidence is by playing, and that's ... not going to happen if you have Endler on the team. So how to fix that problem? Rotation in certain games? But Lyon doesn't have breathing room, not really. Yes, there's a current 5-point lead over PSG, but there's the entire second half of the season to go, and Lyon still has to go through its traditional annual injury crisis. There's not breathing room, not really.

I don't think the defense was necessarily "great" but when your comparison is the midfield and front line, that's not exactly a great point of comparison. Reims was held goalless (low bar). The defenders scored all their penalties (medium bar?) Gilles was sloppy at times but made good saves. Svava was a little off but again, the entire team was so it's not really fair to call her out on a bad game when everyone else was mediocre as well.

The midfield was so mindblowingly mediocre it was genuinely painful to watch. Substituting van de Donk at half time was the right call because she was so shockingly invisible in the first half. Horan was slightly more awake but her accuracy was way off, even if the intensity was there, something which we have not said a lot this season. Dabritz only started to play well once she got pissed off, which only happened in about the 60th minute and she was subbed 15 minutes later. Damaris sleepwalked her first 10 minutes or so, had some sort of issue with her shoes (?), got carded, and then finally decided to take things seriously. By then it was too late.

And now for the front line. Jesus. Fucking. Christ. At what point can we acknowledge that Becho is not a starter, should not be a starter, and is a bench player at best? It really grinds my gears how there is a direct correlation between Lyon playing badly and Becho starting, and then Twitter Armchair Experts still watch said games and come to the conclusion that the obvious solution is to give Becho more playing time. There is a noticeable lack of chemistry between Becho and Carpenter, in part because the latter is more used to playing with Diani, and Cascarino before that.

When the Sports Gods Montemurro finally showed viewers mercy and subbed Becho and put Diani, the right side started showing a bit more teeth. By that I mean they had the teeth of a toddler, but it was still teeth. Diani missed a major chance she should have put away. But there was intensity and Lyon was more physical and showed more will power once she was on.

Chawinga is starting to prove that Kang shouldn't have a say in the recruitment process. I know Lyon had to do their annual shopping at PSG but - we're starting to see she doesn't fit the profile of a Lyon player. Will she eventually adapt? Who knows. But we're running out of time to find out. She can't play on the wings because her technique doesn't hold up for cutting inside. She can't really play as a pure 9 when Hegerberg is on as well.

Hegerberg missed the penalty which is genuinely annoying. Now, I know, why is it fair to give Hegerberg a pass at the moment and not Becho and Chawinga? Truth is, I do believe Hegerberg's grace period has an expiration date. I also believe we haven't reached it yet. I think we're - very slowly - starting to see the old Hegerberg creep back, but we are a very, very long way from seeing vintage Hegerberg.

Which finally leaves us with Montemurro. This is his first loss with Lyon and I am curious how he handles it, how Kang handles it, and how the team handles it. Lyon is so used to winning that it honestly doesn't take much to lose the locker room. That being said, I don't think this was necessarily a loss due to tactics. No one was being played out of position. Lyon just was... bad, especially in the first half, and by the time they decided to take the game seriously, Reims had parked the bus with zero intention of moving it.

Coupe de France also only allows a team to have 16 players in the squad. If you think that two of those have be goalkeepers, it does make the team selection quite limited. Personally I would have started Diani instead of Becho, but maybe Montemurro was also being a bit conservative ahead of the PSG game next week. I don't think there was necessarily anything purely "wrong" with the players he selected. They just collectively played badly for a majority of the game.

Usually when there is a loss like this Lyon gets pissed off and reacts accordingly. Lyon/PSG games usually have quite a bit of bite to them. I'm glad it's being played at Parc des Princes, it's a gorgeous stadium. That being said I think I saw that the Ultras will not be attending, something which will disappoint Bacha more anything. It's not the same when you can't deliberately rile up opposing fans.

Hopefully Lyon gets pissed off, hopefully what happened against Reims is not to be repeated for the rest of the season. I think it's too early to call for Montemurro's head, but I think it's fair to say this was also a warning shot. Losing is unacceptable. Don't let it happen again.

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Lyon losing in the Round of 32 against a relegation team just really sums up how this week has gone ✌🏻

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I swear to God, I haven’t thought of you in ages. I’m pretty sure - I mean I’ve heard - you never faced it.

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Selma Bacha L'Equipe Interview (December 29, 2024)

Me: I'm going to finish translating Renard's OLPlay interview before Thanksgiving.

Also me: well technically I didn't say Thanksgiving 2024.

In the meantime, a good and proper chat with Lyon's (reluctant?) child prodigy. If Hegerberg is the People's Player, and Carpenter the most loyal of foreigners, Bacha is perhaps the embodiment of a player tethered to the club in every sense of the term. Telefoot mused wistfully back in 2015 if certain love stories are predestined. Maybe they weren't wrong. Maybe that's what makes a proper love story: a player who thought about leaving and genuinely considered it only to realize that maybe that's actually what loyalty means. Love a club who could live without you. Love a club who understands that just because they could live without you, doesn't mean they want to. Love a club who says to you "hey, let's talk." Love a club enough to tell them, "okay, yeah, let's."

Blah blah standard disclaimers apply; go outside, get fresh air, go for a walk, idk just do something to break your CREEPY AND WEIRD parasocial trends; if OL Comms Dept want to chip it in for wine or Starbucks to compensate for all these free translations whom am I to say no; y'all know the speech by now.

SELMA BACHA L'EQUIPE INTERVIEW

Mid-December, the day after the draw for Euros 2025, Selma Bacha granted us an interview to talk about her contract extension through 2029 with Olympique Lyonnais. The 24-year-old left back sat down several hours before the last game of the year against Wolfsburg (1-0, played on December 17) in the UWCL to precisely explain her decision for her career.

What made you want to extend?

Last season, I seriously thought about leaving. I was in two minds because I really wanted to challenge myself elsewhere. Having discussed things with my captain (Wendie Renard) and my loved ones, I realized that the best thing for me was to stay here. I'm from Lyon, I was born in Lyon. Wearing this jersey always made sense to me. In terms of a sporting project, it was what was best for me. I want to be a part of this club's history.

"I still have records to beat."

Is this desire to play elsewhere tied to the fact that more and more French players are moving abroad?

Yes, they tell us things and it makes us envious. But everyone makes their own choices. Me, I'm 24 years old. I told myself I was at a turning point. I made the best decision. I know the club has a real project for me. I had a meeting with the board of directors to really understand what the project was. I didn't hesitate for very long. The club has principles and values which really align with me.

Are you still open to the possibility of one day playing abroad?

I live day by day. I don't know what will happen in four years. I still have records to beat (at Lyon). Wendie [Renard] is an icon, an example, and I love to, why not, after her, become my club's captain.

Your first half of the season was basically blank because of an operation on your left ankle back in August (5 appearances). How did you experience those months away from the pitch?

It was really hard mentally. But my club, my teammates, the staff never gave up on me. The coach (Joe Montemurro) is really human, I was able to talk with him. The hardest part is coming back 100 percent and being back to my previous level, and trying to be even better.

Was it an obligation to be operated on?

I got injured before the World Cup (2023). I waited a year. I didn't want to continue like that because my ankle was becoming more and more unstable. I wasn't in pain, it was just annoying because my ankle kept turning. I wasn't able to last a whole week and physically, it was hard for the weekends.

"At Lyon, the foreign players bring a different mentality. We need to change our mentality in the French National Team, as Marie-Antoinette Katoto put it so well."

Recruiting as cover for you during your absence, Sofie Svava has been performing really well. Did you ask yourself if she was going to take your place?

Honestly, not at all. The coach does a lot of rotation. We are there for the team, we are all working together to go win trophies. There is competition for every position but at Lyon, it's very serene. When I came back, my competitor came to see me and said "welcome back." All the other players congratulated me. They're my family.

Did this team help you overcome the disappointment after the Olympics?

It's comforting to go back to this club because I told myself there are other objectives. That defeat remains the hardest one of my career. You're at home, in France, and you get knocked out (by Brazil, 1-0, in the quarterfinals). (She exhales) I really cut myself off after that huge disappointment.

At Lyon, you're the favorites all the time and you manage to live up to the expectations. What's the difference with the French National Team?

At Lyon, the foreign players bring a different mentality. We need to change our mentality in the French National Team, as Marie-Antoinette Katoto put it so well. I want to make my captain (Wendie Renard) happy, and Eugenie (Le Sommer), and be able to contribute to them winning a title. For the Euros, everyone is talking about a Group of Death (England, Netherlands, Wales). Okay, it's tough, but we can do it. It will put us right in it.

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taking her hair down like, "oh, my god" (Lyon - Wolfsburg Postgame Thoughts)

It wasn't a good game and maybe that's the whole point. Good teams have to find a way to win even when they're playing arguably their worse game of the season. It was slow and boring especially for a Lyon - WOB game.

I thought Renard was unusually sloppy. Gilles was solid because Gilles is solid, and I am now terrified that she will become The One That Got Away if Kang doesn't buy her out of the Angel City contract. Carpenter was somewhat different to the outcome in the first half but definitely woke up in the second. Bacha - and I will talk about her extension soon - was good, but what I really like how there wasn't a noticeable drop in quality when Svava was subbed on. I can't believe Real Madrid chose to prioritize Olga and let Svava walk away for free. Maybe she is Real Madrid's One That Got Away.

I thought the midfield was bad. Part of the season it was bad was because we had arguably three of Lyon's slowest midfielders on at the same time. Marozsan was back to the Marozsan I know so well, by that I mean slow and indifferent to both the outcome and defending. Being technically gifted isn't a pass for indifference. Damaris was sloppy too. I'm not sure if it was tiredness or something else, but she's usually a bit more clean than she was today. Horan made some good decisions and some really bad ones. Van de Donk seemed to remember that winning is fun and in order to win you actually have to score. But it also goes back to what I'v just said, in order for Lyon's midfield to work you need at least one of the midfielders to have pace.

Hegerberg was kind of sloppy but wasn't getting great balls either, so I'm tempted on giving her a pass on that. Diani had a bad first half and much like Carpenter, woke up in the second. Chawinga is running out of time to justify her price tag. Now again I think you can't always be selective about tiredness - if a majority of the squad's senior players get a pass for a bad performance due to exhaustion, then that excuse has to be eligible across the board for the starters. But as I also said, exhaustion isn't a free pass for indifference.

I also want to raise an interesting discussion point: Lyon is singlehandedly carrying France's UEFA coefficient right now. By winning all the group stage games, Lyon overcame the points lost by Paris Saint-Germain and Paris FC failing to qualify for said group stage. Now in order to maintain the overall coefficient Lyon will have to win the UWCL, but at least the first challenge is over with.

I'd love to get Real Madrid in the quarters because I am a sucker for a good Case of The Ex (@Bruun come home, the kids haven't been the same since you left). However I don't think the Sports Gods are that merciful and we will end up getting one of Barcelona or Love Island FC, two teams with equally morally reprehensible fan bases.

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writing letters addressed to the fire (Galatarasay - Lyon Postgame Thoughts)

What did we learn about this game? Quite a lot, actually, even though it was at times a little boring.

Hegerberg got a decent amount of minutes, scored, and didn't get injured. Is it safe to say she's back? Not yet, but she is definitely getting there. There were a couple of bad misses which I am willing to excuse as rust, but the grace period isn't indefinite. The moment which really made me smile was when she tapped her imaginary watch as the Galatarasay players were rolling around during yet another break in play. Hegerberg has no patience for blatant time wasting, especially so early in the first half.

Both Dumornay and Diani were really bad this game. They both held onto the ball too much, made bad choices, and let the frustration of having a bad game get to them. If Diani gets in her head and goes quiet when things go wrong, Dumornay gets more erratic and the frustration becomes more visible. It's frustrating because I think she can be a really good player but she has got to start learning to manage her emotions better.

Carpenter was uncharacteristically sloppy in the opening 10-15 minutes of the game, but got better as the game progressed, and her cross for Hegerberg's goal was really good. She has improved a lot this season, be it because now there is genuine competition for her spot with Huerta, there is actual rotation, or maybe just the coach is good. Who knows? I will take it either way. But I think we're really seeing her grow as a player this season.

Renard was solid except for one nervy moment, which was also uncharacteristic. Sombath did good but isn't on the same level as Gilles. That being said, I'm curious what the lineup will be against Nantes. Lyon plays Nantes in Lyon on Saturday, and I think we will see more rotation ahead of the big Wolfsburg game next Tuesday.

Two comments about the substitutes: I'm surprised that Huerta came on for Bacha instead of Svava but will let it pass considering Lyon has two more games to play in the next 6 days; if Horan had missed the bicycle kick the way Becho did Twitter would have had an absolute meltdown and demanded Horan be sold effective immediately. Since they would never have double standards, I take this as they will join my incentive to get Becho to transfer to another team in the January window.

The biggest football crime is people pretending that Becho is good that Le Sommer plays on the same team at the same time as Hegerberg. I still feel to this day that Le Sommer doesn't get the recognition she so rightfully deserves. She is everything you could ever want in a footballer (barring maybe height?), and I just wish people would appreciate her more. As a romantic I would have loved her 50th UWCL goal to have been against Wolfsburg but I guess not all love stories happen when you want them to.

I keep thinking back to the start of the season when Mbock wasn't replaced, the Svava signing was announced, Bacha's surgery was announced, and Huerta was signed (not in that specific order). But I remember the absolute (and in my opinion, justified) outrage at what Lyon's defense would look like. There was a ton of doom predicting. There was absolute head loss. But look at where we are now: Lyon is top of the group, guaranteed to finish first, has only conceded one goal so far in the UWCL (TBD if that changes against Wolfsburg), two goals in the actual league.

We have to give credit where credit is due: Montemurro may not be a perfect coach, but he has done a really good job so far with Lyon. He has managed this team well and got them playing well. I am not certain that anyone can say with absolute confidence that they predicted Lyon's stats would look like they are now in Summer 2024.

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and there you are with sitting as usual with your golden notebook writing about someone who used to be me (Le Havre - Lyon Postgame Thoughts)

Yes it's a long song lyric but whatever, the whole line is needed for it to make sense.

Anyway. We can chat about The Alcott later, let's talk about me avoiding doing laundry the Le Havre game.

There was a fair amount of Twitter outrage at Montemurro's comment that academy players would get playing time only for him to only take Belhadj, who did not play at all, Sombath, who played 45 minutes and a lot of that was because of the knock Svava received, and Becho, whose contributions I refuse to acknowledge. "This was the perfect game to play academy players!" Twitter armchair experts exclaimed.

Yes and no.

Rotation is important and there were definitely players who should not have played 90 minutes: van de Donk's performance was somewhat mediocre but she is going to be playing with the Netherlands this break; Marozsan was slightly more engaged in the game's outcome but isn't exactly the definition of youth; Gilles played 90 despite being selected for Canada. Renard I'm not thrilled about playing 90 but it's also not a hill I am interested in dying on.

So it was a pretty strong lineup considering the opposition was Le Havre. But people are misreading it. The opposition wasn't really Le Havre, it's PSG. Lyon only has a 1-point lead over PSG. They can't afford to risk dropping points unless and until PSG starts dropping points too. Yes, there are playoffs at the end of the season, but even then you want to be in the best position and that means hosting it. To do that, you need to finish first in the regular season.

Right now Lyon is poised to do that, but there are a lot of games left and not very much breathing room. So I get why Montemurro went back on his word about academy players getting minutes. If you look at it from the point of Lyon conserving their advantage, it makes sense. Lyon just doesn't have enough breathing room to fuck around and find out what academy kids may or may not be capable of, not with only one point between them and PSG.

This game will be forgotten about and rightfully so. Lyon won, cool. Was it their best game of the season? No. Was it realistic to believe it could/should have been? Also no. Lyon always gets a UWCL hangover and this game was no exception. The intensity and pass accuracy wasn't there, it took way too long for Lyon to actually get shots off and even longer to get one on target.

Part of that is because of how well Le Havre was playing. They're currently in a relegation battle but I think it's a Nantes/ASSE situation where if you give this team a little bit of time to gel - and maybe a bit more funding - then you could see something really interesting. Le Havre's intent was there, you could see what they were trying to do, but realistically they just didn't have the physicality and technique to beat Lyon. That doesn't mean they made things easy for Lyon. But Le Havre showed promise and intent and I think we have to give credit where credit is due.

[redwineconversation]

let's fast forward to 300 takeout coffees later (Lyon - AS Roma Postgame Thoughts)

That tweet was posted after the first leg of the UWCL semi-final against PSG and we saw a similar thing today: a Lyon team who was just bad for the better part of 70 minutes, conceded a goal, and then woke up.

I said to someone that I wasn't sure if AS Roma was playing well or Lyon was playing badly; honestly I think it was a bit of both. AS Roma played a pretty good game. I think you have to give credit where credit is due because the scoreline may be unflattering to them but also doesn't tell the whole story.

And the story goes something like this: Lyon was really, really bad throughout most of the game. The passes were sloppy, the pace was slow, the intensity was almost nonexistent. Lyon was playing like a team who didn't really want to be there and didn't have an investment in the outcome of the game.

They were bad, but they were also bad across the board. Van de Donk was nonexistent. Dumornay was the epitome of sloppy passes. Damaris was careless. Horan was slow, but why people are suddenly picking on her lack of pace now when we knew it as far back as January 2022 is beyond me. Also, as I said before, a lot of criticism towards Horan feels more as bitterness/annoyance that she is playing instead of their favorite [academy?] player and less a criticism in good faith. Her form has been "bad", sure, but it's nowhere near as dire as the Twitter armchair specialists say it is.

Chawinga really needs to start justifying her price tag, and Diani finally did today. A little late but better late than never I guess. The sentimental part of me wants Le Sommer to get her 50th UWCL goal against Wolfsburg because a historical and important rivalry such as the Lyon-WOB one needs to be celebrated accordingly.

I thought the defense was pretty solid. Svava is obviously the standout and boy is she making everyone who had a massive head loss after her signing eat their words. And yes, I am including myself in that. But she is just such a solid defender. She knows what she is capable of and stays within that perimeter. There's no showboating, no risk taking, just a quiet player who stays within her job description. How wrong we all were about her, and how glad I am that we were so, so wrong.

The rest of the backline was pretty solid too. I think Carpenter works better with Diani on the right than when Dumornay drifts right, but that is mainly because they have played together on that side for longer. On the whole I think Carpenter had a decent match - it wasn't her best one, but it was good, it was solid. The same can be said of Gilles - she's played better games, sure, but she did her job, and that's what matters. Renard made a couple of errors but it wasn't anything that really spiked my blood pressure.

But let's talk about the game itself. I think the real problem was the midfield. It was just so stagnant for a majority of the game, little movement, sloppy passes, lack of intensity. Since Lyon lives and dies by their midfield, when the midfield is as off as it was today, it affects every other part of their game as well.

AS Roma took advantage of that sloppiness and indifference and opened the score, and I think that's what was needed for Lyon to finally become invested in the game. Which is fine in some ways because it showed us Lyon can still be Lyon when they want to be: vexed, vengeful benefactors who hate the thought of losing so much it embeds itself in their DNA.

And although there were similarities with the PSG game for me there were also a couple differences. PSG took their foot off the gas and Lyon eventually decided to take the game seriously. I don't think AS Roma took their foot off the gas in this game, I think Lyon simply woke up and decided to punish them, possibly for waking them up. Basically I don't think AS Roma's level actually dropped, I think Lyon just stepped it up a couple of gears and decided to get to work.

Lyon plays away at Le Havre on Saturday. I expect a fair amount of turnover as Le Havre is currently bottom of the league - kind of consistent with last season despite some people's selective memory - and it's right before the international break, so Montemurro will want to manage minutes in exchange for the national teams managing minutes in return. Life is about compromise.

[redwineconversation]

history's a letter made of scarlet, victories look better when you've called it (Lyon - ASSE Postgame Thoughts)

It really bothers me when this is marketed as a rivalry because while it is on the men's side, the disparity is just so big on the women's side that it just doesn't really come close to being a proper rivalry. Lyon/PSG is a proper rivalry because of the amount of bad blood between them, the gulf is just so big between Lyon and ASSE that it honestly feels a little disingenuous to market it as something even close to a rivalry. But it's not just Lyon/ASSE, I feel that way about Barcelona/RM, Arsenal/Spurs, etc. When the gap is that big, it's hard to say it's a rivalry.

But I digress. Let's talk about the game.

Lyon played well especially considering there was such a large turnover. Horan is not the awful player Twitter Analysts claim she is. Now, I will concede that she scored four goals against ASSE, a team so bad they made even Becho look good, but still. Horan played well and scored goals. It is what it is.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think Carpenter's form this season is directly related to Lyon signing Huerta. I don't necessarily think she was complacent per se before but having that threat of competition has definitely been good for her. It's given her that extra push. I think her crossing is good - she's starting to deliver in terms of assists. Her pass percentage is up though I would like to see it consistently in the 95 percent plus range. The point is, we're definitely seeing an improved player this season. That's good.

There was concern - not unwarranted - about Montemurro coming in this season but I think we have to give credit where credit is due. Lyon has been playing really good football under him (for the most part). They're consistently a fun team to watch and gone is the stale style of play from the latter part of Bompastor's reign. Now, will this form last? Who knows. But right now Lyon hasn't conceded a goal since the opening game against Fleury, has a massive GD advantage, has kept a significant number of clean sheets... At a certain point we have to admit he is doing a good job.

[redwineconversation]

your past and mine are parallel lines, stars all aligned and they intertwined

[redwineconversation]

you know how to ball, I know Cicero (AS Roma - Olympique Lyonnais Postgame Thoughts)

I don't care if the title is a bad pun, it still needed to be made. And for the record I can quote Cicero.

Philosophy and Lyon happen to be two things I love talking about, and what better time to get philosophical than when trying to delay inputting time entries after a UWCL game against AS Roma?

It wasn't a perfect game but it was, for all intent and purposes, a good game. I thought the teams were pretty evenly matched. Lyon was bigger, stronger and more technical but that doesn't mean that AS Roma rolled over at the sight of Lyon. Quite the contrary, they didn't hold back and had a bit of a go at Lyon, who enjoyed that a bit.

Carpenter isn't always at the heart of scuffles but managed to be at the scene of the crime in every single one this game. Carpenter losing it at the end of the first half and beefing with AS Roma's captain honestly gets funnier every time I watch the replay, in part because Carpenter pulls up before actually doing anything. Gilles found herself being the closest adult and stepped in, Damaris thought about intervening but decided against it. Honestly it was an amazing sequence.

Then Renard, Gilles and Carpenter got into it with AS Roma's coaching staff when walking to the tunnel at the half time.

Not satisfied, Carpenter then decided to start beefing with half the AS Roma lineup and I legitimately laughed out loud when she started beefing with Saki Kumagai of all people.

And you know what, I don't know why Carpenter was so pissed off at AS Roma's fouls because I guarantee you she has played against dirtier teams but it triggered something in her and this was easily her best game of the season. So hats off to her. I always said to give her a little bit of time to become the defender Lyon wanted her to be and I think we are getting there. And the cool thing is we still have her for a couple of years!

I know that hating on Horan is in style at the moment but so much of it feels like bitching for the sake of bitching. I think there are legitimate criticisms to be made: Horan is slow, her lack of pace does affect Lyon's speed on a counter attack, and sometimes her decision-making is the wrong one. Those are all legitimate. But you are being so deliberately dishonest if you're saying she is the worse player on the team and should be sold. I can think of at least three, four other players who need to be off the roster and payroll before you even get to Horan.

Also, and this is another thing - the leaders in the locker room have before and will do so again make it very clear when they push a player out because they feel she doesn't have the level anymore. They're not doing that with Horan.

Dislike a player all you want, but at least be upfront about why you don't like a player, because at this point it feels like you're just bitching because it's fashionable and/or she is playing in the place of your favorite player.

I think it was a pretty good game. Chawinga is still struggling and we are getting to the point where she needs to start explaining why her price tag is so high, but I also think there is a steeper learning curve with Lyon than maybe all parties concerned were expecting. So I am tempted on giving her a grace period but it's not an indefinite one. There weren't any outrageous misses from her but just a couple of bad decisions here and there. It should be cleaned up eventually.

Ender was good, back line was good, God I hope Carpenter beefs with the entire AS Roma team next week, midfield was pretty good, forwards were fine. Honestly not a lot to nitpick.

[redwineconversation]

Selma Bacha Twitter Space Recap

I'm not translating it in full because it was done by amateur journalists and I don't feel comfortable using their work since they're already not getting paid, but there were interesting points of discussion so I'll do a summary.

As of today she has not entered into any contract negotiations with Lyon, claiming that her priority was her rehab and that she had agents in place to take care of contract negotiations. Reading between the lines it feels like a departure but she also said it depends on how her return to competition goes. At this point in time I would be more surprised if she stays than if she leaves.

She is ahead of schedule for making a return. She is already training with the first team. She implied that she would be back "very soon" which I took to mean maybe ASSE based on the upcoming schedule. I don't think she will play either of the AS Roma games due to the physicality of those two games.

I thought the Space gassed her up a bit and they said some things I really disagreed with, but they also held her accountable. There was a long back and forth about her injury (she basically severed two out of three ligaments in her ankle and was going around on one ligament). As a recap, she injured her ankle in a friendly against Australia in the World Cup, played in the World Cup, played an entire season with Lyon, played the Olympics, then decided to get surgery after the Olympics. The Space pointed out that it felt like she was using her last year at Lyon to rehab and then trot off to a new club. That raised her heckles a bit and she said that she basically sacrificed her body for a year for her club and country but knew she would be able to recover. She also said she understood why people felt the way they did, but she knows what her intentions were. In what is obviously a dig at Mbock, she said she would never disrespect the club (going to Barcelona would be a bit disrespectful but that's nitpicking I guess).

She was asked about Karchaoui's comments about how important it is for the French league for the best French players to stay in France. She said she agreed with the sentiment but pointed out there are basically two attractive clubs, Lyon and PSG, and it shifts the burden to those two clubs to be competitive rather than the league needing to step up. She also said that she feels there is progress being made in the league and it is going in the right direction.

She was asked about Lyon - PSG transactions. She said that while she understands that players have to do what is in their best interest, she doesn't understand why you would leave a club that wins for a club that doesn't. Bacha is a PSG hater first and a Lyon academy product second.

She was also asked whether Lyon has become less attractive as a club with the emergence of Chelsea and Barcelona. Her response was "Lyon never dies". She said that Lyon remains very consistent in terms of being in competitions and winning, but touched back on what she said earlier about how the burden has shifted to Lyon on staying competitive rather than the league stepping up.

In what will no doubt offend the academy propagandists, she said there is a massive gulf being between in the academy and being in the pro team, and that just because you shine in the academy it doesn't mean you will succeed with the pro team. The biggest difference is the level of intensity and the reality is most of the academy players aren't able to handle the intensity of the top level.

She was asked if she has talked to French players who play overseas about how they feel about different leagues. She said she has but wasn't going to name them, but if you read between the lines it was obvious she was talking about Cascarino.

Bacha also said that focusing on making the league being "family friendly" would curb rivalry games, which are the main clashes in a league. They discussed Lyon - PSG games and she said that when you're in a hostile environment, the stakes become higher and you play better football. Booing etc brings out the competitiveness, and she doesn't think muzzling supporters is the way forward.

She was originally meant to be a 10 before the academy turned her into being a defender.

She was also asked how she feels about fans criticism. They brought up how French fans feel very disillusioned about the state of the French team and wonder why they should bother supporting the French National Team when there is never anything to show for it. Bacha responded "are you trying to make me cry?" They pressed her more on it but she said that while she does think that you need to support a team when they're down, it's also up to them to win fans back.

She was asked about scheduling but specifically when you go from club to country. She said that typically, you get called up when you're playing well with your club. If you're playing well with the club, it means you're focused and doing your job. You're physically ready. She said that's why it's an issue when players from non-competitive clubs get called up because their clubs have lower standards, therefore it will affect their performance at the National Team. This was particularly relevant under Diacre's reign of terror.

They discussed the difference between a mental coach and a therapist. Lyon employs the latter. She said she has a mental coach to prepare her for the games and Lyon uses the therapists (there are three) to discuss what happens during/after the games. She said the decision to have a mental coach is personal, some players need them, others wouldn't work well with a mental coach.

They touched briefly on Montemurro. The Space was a little outraged at his comment about how Lyon needs to go as far as possible in the UWCL and that he didn't say the goal was to win. Bacha said that Lyon's goal was to get the UWCL back, and the Space commented on the linguistics of that - "get it back" implies that it belongs to Lyon, winning implies there isn't a possession. Bacha also defended Montemurro and said that he was a very humble coach, and that's why he didn't say in the same terms that she did.

[redwineconversation]

It’s REALLY interesting how some people are picking and choosing what they want to criticize Newsom over.

“Omg he harasses the homeless!” He also continues to push for affordable housing for the low-income and/or homeless population. So which is it?

He helped removed a homeless encampment - and??? So what. Anyone who wants to pretend homeless encampments are not a problem are welcome to take a stroll down downtown LA, preferably at night, then report back their feelings about homeless encampments.

And if you want to bitch about the cost of housing why don’t we talk about how Newsom is the one pushing the bills forward and it’s the voters who keep voting against it.

Newsom was also granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples way before it was legal. Thought y’all were all about LGBT rights? Do we pretend he didn’t do it because it’s, well, Newsom?

“He has such disdain for Republicans, he will never get cross over voters!” You know what, great. I am so sick of people pretending that ANYONE voting for Trump, or Republican, has a shred of moral decency. You want to vote for someone who does despicable things, you get to deal with the consequences. You get to be called despicable to your face.

I am SO FUCKING SICK of the moral grandstanding individuals who are responsible for electing Trump. “Kamala Harris didn’t do exactly what I wanted from a politician therefore I won’t vote for her!” Those people are why we got an absolute maniac in the White House. Newsom will fight like hell for his people. Let’s take the muzzle off and fucking bite back.

Newsom isn’t perfect by any means but let’s have someone who will fight - literally - for your rights to be respected.

[redwineconversation]

Danielle van de Donk Olympique & Lyonnais Interview (November 2, 2024)

I really hate translating van de Donk stuff because of the fucking bunny boiler stans she has. Parasocial relationships are so fucking weird and creepy.

No funny disclaimers because I am equal part PISSED OFF and depressed at the results of the 2024 Presidential Elections. As I said before, I hope everyone who voted for Trump gets exactly what they deserve. If there was ever a definition of a morally reprehensible piece of shit ...

Interview done before the PSG game.

Van de Donk: "Show that Lyon is still better" than PSG

At the club for four seasons now, Danielle van de Donk has become one of the leaders in Lyon's locker room. Before playing PSG this Sunday (2pm), the Dutch woman had a long conversation with Olympique & Lyonnais about the start of the season, Joe Montemurro's arrival but also her role as a role model for the younger players.

Olympique & Lyonnais: Danielle, after the Lyon draw against Paris FC, was it good mentally to go be with the National Team?

Danielle van de Donk: Yeah, it was really nice being with the National Team. We had a really good international break. I think it came at the right time for everybody. My personal performances with the National Team were really good, so, yes, I was happy to be back with them.

Did that make it easier to move on to other things after Paris FC?

Yes, I think so. It's really disappointing for us because we created a lot of chances in this game and we didn't score. We want to win every game we play, so it wasn't very fun. It's good to have a break at that point. I think we had a pretty packed schedule with Wolfsburg and another game [I too want to forget about the Dijon game].

The coach said on Friday that the staff worked around the players' fitness to prepare for the PSG game. Where are you at?

For me, the international break is always a bit quieter. It's also because I am one of the older players on the national team as well. When I get there, they change the program so I can recover and perform well. And it's the same way here at Lyon, they look at how many minutes you've played with the national team and adapt the training session accordingly [might be news to Carpenter but whatever]. So everything is a bit easier.

To go back to the Paris FC game, you said it was a frustrating game. How do you explain that?

I think it's mainly because we weren't able to put away our chances. We had a lot of opportunities to score and there are games when the ball just won't go in. Playing for Lyon means you want to win every game. So it's frustrating to have drawn having taken so many shots. Those games are always a bit difficult because if you don't score, you're at risk of your opponent scoring. Thankfully that wasn't the case, at least we got a draw. But it's frustrating because we should have gotten three points, we were so much better, we had so many chances to score, but we didn't do it.

"PSG is still our rival, we want to beat them"

It also cost Lyon the top place in the table. Is it anecdotal because of the new format in the league or does that bother you?

It remains anecdotal, but we are competitors and we want to be at the top the whole season. It's not the case currently, but we are determined to fix that as soon as Sunday...

PSG is top of the table and is coming on Sunday (2pm). Is there more of an obligation to win than usual? Is there a bit more excitement?

Yes, obviously. But as I said, I think we need to be ... how to say this ... We should win every game. We are better than the other teams, so we need to win. We were held to a draw against Paris FC, sometimes it doesn't go the way we want, but I think it's been the case since the start of the season. Our standards are always there as well, so we just need to win. Lyon - PSG is always the biggest clash in the league.

Last year, Lyon played PSG six times between the league, the UWCL and the Trophée des Championnes. Is there still a little bit of excitement to play against them?

It's always a good game even if we've played them so many times. It's always really exciting. It's always a good way to respond to critics and to send a message to PSG or to others who think we are finished. But Sunday, we want to show we're still the strongest and still the best.

"Montemurro has this ability to adapt"

Joe Montemurro came to Lyon and Fabrice Abrien to PSG. Is that going to change the game compared to other years?

A game remains a game and we need to win it. But with the arrival of new coach, it's also different because he isn't French which for me makes a huge difference. Because the French are a bit more rigid and only see one way to do things. And with Joe, I think there are possibilities, more systems, for example. So yeah, it could be very different with him, but it's still the same object, the same feeling.

Since the start of the season, you've played in a 4-3-3 or 3-4-4. Lindsey Horan talked about Tiki-Taka, is it something you like?

The 4-3-3, as you said, I'm Dutch, so for me it's like being at home. I can think about that formation and imagine all the tactics which go with it. But in my career, I've had so many different coaches, I've played in England, in Sweden, so there I've been exposed to a lot of tactics and a lot of systems. I like it when a team can adapt to the opponent, so if one way of doing things isn't working, then you can easily switch to a 4-4-2 for example. Yes, I love the 4-3-3, I think it suits me as a player, but I like other formations as well and I think I learn more as a player when I have played in different formations.

Could that be one of the key elements against PSG on Sunday?

Yes, I think so. It's also something I really like with Joe. If we're playing in a formation and he sees it isn't working, he immediately changes it. And we work on a lot of formations in practice, so we know what we need to do when things change in a game. It's one of the biggest advantages he has as a coach.

"I am certainly not the coach's favorite!"

You're reunited with head Coach Montemurro after being at Arsenal. How is the reunion going?

Very well. He is always ... well, not always, but most of the time very, very happy. He is really involved when he coaches, which has a positive influence on the team. I think it's really funny how he is learning to speak French. He really tries to speak French sometimes, but it's only one or two words, and then he switches to English. It's very funny because he tells us "simply speak in English, we all understand it". But he tries, and that's good. [@Kang!!!]

Do you see a difference in his management style compared to the first time you had him?

I get the impression that during practice sessions, for example, he is much more involved. He is really right there behind us. You feel like you have to be at your best during training or there will be consequences. He wasn't like that before, so I like that.

Is there any truth to the rumor that you are his favorite?

His favorite? Absolutely not! (laughter) If something isn't working, it's my fault, I get the impression that since he knows me, he thinks he can do that with me. On the other hand I know he likes me, but I am definitely not his favorite! (smiles)

You are part of the older generation of players. How do you see yourself evolve as a player at Lyon?

I think I can still learn. To be honest, before coming to Lyon, and I am only speaking for myself, but I thought I was a really good player. I arrive at Lyon and I say to myself "oh, wow, these players are incredible." And they were so nice. I said to myself "okay, I can learn a lot from these players." I think I learn a lot from watching my teammates do things. For example, Maro (Dzsenifer Marozsan), she is incredible, but you get the feeling everything is happening in slow motion. And I ask myself why? Because when I play, I'm quick, everything goes fast. She is so calm, but you can never get the ball from her. So I watch and I tell myself "I need to learn from you." I watch everyone and I study everyone. I have experience, but I continue to discover new things.

Do you think that's what makes this team so strong? Being able to learn from each other despite what they've accomplished in their careers?

It's what I think. Also, one of the strengths of this team is that we play for Lyon, so everyone wants playing time, but that's not possible. So if someone doesn't play, there is no hatred within the team. We continue to help each other and learn from one another. I've never experienced at another club in my life, it's very special.

"Having individual programs in the team is a really good thing"

Lyon has a lot of leaders, are you one of them?

I don't know. I think that off the pitch, I like to joke around and just create a good atmosphere ... Make it so that everyone feels welcome. I don't want someone to feel uncomfortable so I am always there for everybody. But on the pitch I am a leader, but not vocally ... just in my playing style.

Is it different with the Netherlands?

Not necessarily ... A little bit in training, but not as much. I just show my energy on the pitch and show that I am there to win. For example, Wendie (Renard) is one of the greatest captains and she can speak before a game and it really touches me. But I can't do that myself. I'll go to see people individually during the week and say to them "Hey, you're really good at this or you need to do this or that". So to be honest, I don't know if I am really a leader.

Did the arrival of Joe Montemurro bring something extra to the team?

Yes. The staff that came with Joe, I really like them. They are all really nice. For example, I'm 33 years old, so I don't have a lot of one-on-ones meetings. But I had a meeting with the assistant coach, Pala (Joseph Palisades) and he showed me my game day videos. He didn't know me really well and I didn't know him, but he, having watched the clips, he understood me as a football player. So he said to me "I think I can help you on this point and on this point". And I said super, I want that. But for me, it's really special because usually it takes a bit of time for people to come to you and make you better. But they broke things down individually and I think that really brings to the team as well.

"I want children to look up to us and tell themselves it's possible"

This Sunday, there will be more than 15,000 people at Parc OL including young girls. Do you get the feeling to be a source of inspiration for these youngsters?

Yes. I think it's really important that as big players, we inspire people. It's all I want to do, really. I want young kids to look up to us and tell themselves they want to be like us on the pitch later. Because when I was younger, I went to watch PSV men games and all that I could think of was "wow, I want to play in a full stadium." But it wasn't possible at the time, or if it was, you had to go to the US. It's now possible in the Netherlands. It's also possible in France.

15,000 people, it's quite far from the record from last season...

I don't think people completely realize how important it is for the players that the stadium is full, that it is packed. Because they inspire us as much as we inspire them.

You've played in England, how would you compare the development on women's football in France with that in England?

They had the Euros at home and they won it, that's why everything fell into place. It was the same thing in the Netherlands. So I think that a tournament at home, it really helps to inspire people. And you just have to do it so that people watch you. That's where we are at at Lyon and in France. People just need to come watch us and I think they will be hooked.