Marozsán: “This match is my first ever at home, so it's more important than the others”

“The team has put in a lot of work. We’ve watched numerous videos of our opponents, but during our preparations we’ve also been concentrating on our own game”, began Lyon head coach Reynald Pedros, whose team face Barcelona in Ferencváros’ Groupama Aréna in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final at 18:00 on Saturday evening.

Journalists were naturally keen to ask Dzsenifer Marozsán about returning ‘home’, the Germany international forward having been born in Budapest. “This final is incredibly important, and also emotional for me, since it will be the first time I’ll have played here in Hungary in front of my family, and this means a lot to me. I’ve already dreamt of this day and now it is becoming reality. I can hardly wait to step onto the pitch” said Lyon’s three-time Champions League winner. “Of course, this final is the most important that I’ve played in, since I was born in the city. I was delighted when I knew the final was being held in Budapest, especially so when we booked our place”, she added.

Lyon captain Wendy Renard said that: “We’ve done all we can to ensure we win again. That has to be our objective since we can write history by winning a fourth Champions League title in a row. No one – in women’s or men’s football – has succeeded thus far. It’s a final though, and they are a different kind of match to other ones”.

Marozsán, speaking about Ada Herberger, who became the first woman to win the Golden Ball at the end of last year, said that: “Ada is extremely important to the team, but we need everybody, starting XI and those on the bench alike if we are to win. We had very tough matches against Wolfsburg and Chelsea, but we worked as a team, and I believe that to be the key to success". Marozsán also thanked the Hungarian fans for their support and numerous positive message she has received from them, saying that she would share a fantastic experience with them in Saturday’s final.

Barcelona have reached the final without conceding a goal in the competition since last September and are the first team from Spain to reach a Women’s Champions League final. “We’ve got a good feeling about the match. We’ve gotten this far, and we now only need to take the final step. We've worked exceedingly hard in the two weeks leading up to the final, and we feel that we’re ready” said head coach Lluís Cortés. “It is of course a great achievement that we are here, but the club is going to invest a lot in women’s football. In the final, we want to show what it is that we’re working towards. But we can’t stand still; we’ll continue the work”, he emphasised.

Asked about opponents Lyon, Cortés continued by saying: “We know that, as title-holders, Lyon are favourites, but they aren’t invincible. They possess some outstanding individuals, but we’ll do everything we can to win”. Former Lyon midfielder Kheira Hamraoui is unavailable for Barcelona due to suspension, Cortés saying that although she would be missed, their match-plan didn’t rely on any single player.

Barcelona’s Lieke Martens, a European champion with Belgium, emphasised that: “We’re getting better and better; we have our own strengths. I believe that whichever team has more possession and uses it well will prevail. The final is the most important club match in the women’s game’s calendar; this gives us extra motivation. We can be proud that we’re here”.

Barcelona captain Vicky Losada spoke about women’s football in Spain: “We’re striving to show that women footballers should have the same opportunities as their male counterparts”. She emphasised that “just like the men’s team, the women also want to win every trophy we compete for. We are strong at the back, and it is an even greater motivation for us that we can defeat the holders in the final”.

The final is being played in front of a full house at the Groupama Aréna, and whoever wins, it will go down as an historical victory.