The wait is finally over! The FC Bayern women have been waiting for this day since the draw was made at the end of November, and now it’s finally arrived. “You can sense the anticipation,” reported Thomas Wörle a good 24 hours before the club’s first-ever UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final. The opposition on Thursday at the Grünwalder Stadion (kick-off 19:00CET) is a heavyweight of European women’s football: Paris Saint-Germain. “We’ve never experienced this,” said the head coach. “It could be easier, but it has its appeal. We really can’t wait.”
The same can be said for the fans. Over 5,000 tickets have already been snatched up. “We receive amazing support from the club to help fill up the stadium,” said a delighted Wörle, who knows that the fans will be able to play a special role on Thursday. “We’ll definitely need our 12th (wo)man. You can’t underestimate this factor.” The Bayern coach is hoping for “extra energy” from the terraces. “You have to be able to sense a power behind you because it won’t be easy.”
"Get a positive result with our team"
PSG have been one of Europe’s top sides for many years. Currently second in the French league, they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last year, and the final the season before. And now the French team wants to reach the final again in Cardiff. “PSG are definitely one of the top three teams in Europe. They have more European experience than us, have a few big names and many international players amongst their ranks,” said Wörle.
The Bayern boss believes his side are “the challengers” in this bout. “But Paris rely on individual players. We have to get a grip on them, and then I think we can get a positive result with our team,” said Wörle, who once again is without almost a dozen players on Thursday. Striker Fridolina Rolfö (muscle) has now joined the long list of absentees following the Wolfsburg game on Sunday. Youth players Verena Wieder and Sydney Lohmann are also missing after being called up to the Germany U17 squad.
Now more than ever!
However, the motto for the Bayern team is: Now more than ever! Wörle is convinced, “our personnel difficulties will bring us even closer together. We’ll show our great strength as a collective.” Although the team has twice lost to Wolfsburg in the last week, the performance on Sunday is seen as one to build on. “We were just lacking goals. We have to take that performance with us and try to be more efficient.” That and the support of the fans could help fulfil Wörle’s desire to “get a result that gives us a chance in the second leg. Tomorrow will be a great day.”
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