Among the boys, the great Lyon of the 2000s had stopped at seven titles in Ligue 1, and no one would dare today to pronounce favorably when the timing of a hypothetical 8th French championship won.
The women's team, on the other hand, brilliantly engulfed itself in the roller coaster, this Saturday in Turin, but on a European scale.
By almost serenely beating (3-1) FC Barcelona, defending champion and big favorite of the competition, Olympique Lyonnais thwarted all the predictions of last summer.
Because few observers imagined this team, decimated by serious injuries (Hegerberg, Mbock, etc.) and bruised by a 2020-2021 season without the slightest trophy (a first since 2006), finding the roof of Europe so quickly.
“Last year hurt me because I left this Champions League by scoring an own goal [1-2 against PSG in the quarter-finals], remembered captain Wendie Renard, at the microphone of DAZN after this eighth European title.
So my mission was to bring back the Cup.
Collectively, we didn't deserve to spend last season and there, we really wanted to go all the way, even if we never had our full team.
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This overflowing desire was felt at the final whistle, when several players burst into tears.
Starting with the Norwegian star Ada Hegerberg, who returned to the field this season after a physical ordeal of 21 months.
Still as clutch this Saturday with his sixth career goal in a European final (2-0, 23rd), the Lyon striker seemed as moved as after his first Champions League, in 2016 in Reggio Emilia (Italy).
"We really went to great lengths to get this win," she told DAZN.
It's a very good team up front and it was an incredible final.
We never doubted our qualities.
I'm so proud of this group.
There is so much work behind it all.
Thank you President Aulas, I don't know how to thank you but you make us dream”.
Let Ada Hegerberg be reassured, Jean-Michel Aulas probably experienced his main sporting satisfaction of the season this Saturday, while his men's team (8th) began at the same time a 38th day of Ligue 1 in Clermont in total anonymity.
"It's wonderful, the happiness is immense," he confirmed on OL Play.
We have a great team and we see what football can bring in emotions.
We saw all our players take the lead in the will, it's our trademark.
With this constantly renewed culture of winning (8 supreme titles and 10 finals over the last 13 editions), like Amandine Henry (32) who scored a first legendary goal against Barça ( 1-0, 6th).
“If we had been told that at the start of the season, with all the physical glitches and the adventures that we may have had”, confides the OL midfielder on DAZN, with a forced smile for the attention of Corinne Deacon , who has not retained her for a year and a half in the France team.
“We were really in reconquest this season, everyone regained confidence, continues the former captain of the Blue.
This title will remain etched in my memory for a long time, and especially in my heart.
All finals are different, but this one is super important in terms of emotions.
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So much so that her teammate Amel Majri, seriously injured in her knee last October and pregnant, took risks in the stands of Juventus Stadium.
“I told myself that I had to be careful because I had a lot of contractions, smiles the middle for DAZN.
I had to stop getting up at each goal.
But it gives a lot of chills to see the girls enjoying themselves like that.
“A feeling shared by thousands of Lyonnais this Saturday.
Soccer
Women's football
Olympique Lyonnais (OL)
women's OL
Champions League
Lyons
Sport
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes