Lyon striker Schelin in confident mood
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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"I think that we are kind of the favourites," Lotta Schelin told UEFA.com as Olympique Lyonnais prepare to defend their title against 1. FFC Frankfurt in Munich on Thursday.
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A year ago Lotta Schelin spearheaded the Olympique Lyonnais attack as they defeated German opposition to win the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time and on Thursday in Munich the Sweden striker will attempt to repeat the trick.
Last season in London it was 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam who Lyon beat 2-0 to take the trophy to France for the first time, having lost to that very side on penalties 12 months earlier. Now, having seen off Potsdam 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, with Schelin among the scorers in the first-leg win in which all the goals came, Lyon are taking on 1. FFC Frankfurt at the Olympiastadion in an attempt to become only the second team to defend the title.
"It's a great feeling," Schelin told UEFA.com. "It's something we have been looking forward to for a long time, and it's the highlight of the season. It's a really great stadium, so for us it's a really big moment, and I hope it's going to be even bigger tomorrow night after the game."
Their opponents may have 'home' advantage in Germany but for many observers Lyon – who won the French Cup in Sunday with two Schelin goals and last lost over 90 minutes more than two years ago – are favourites. Not least after their overwhelming performance against a Potsdam side that have beaten Frankfurt twice in the league this season.
"Yes, of course it gives us some confidence," Schelin said. "Now we know we are capable of winning against these German teams, and that was not the case before. So yes, I think it gives us confidence and also the season in all, we played well, and we haven't lost a game in the Champions League. Of course we have some confidence if you look at that. But at the same time we know Frankfurt and German teams are always good, so in one game everything can happen. It's going to be a really tough game."
But Schelin admits Lyon are the favoured team. "We really have managed to set a great standard over several years, this is the third final in a row, so of course I think that we are kind of the favourites," she concluded.
