NOS Football•today, 8:43 PM
Dutch international Daniëlle van de Donk can no longer get that smile off her face. With her team Olympique Lyonnais she defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Now the final against FC Barcelona awaits. Can they beat them? “Yes,” she says confidently.
Who is also full of emotions is that other Dutch international Jackie Groenen. She appears in front of the camera after the 1-2 defeat: “This is hard. I don’t have the best answer at the moment. This is also part of football, it’s a shame.”
Her team PSG, where compatriot and Dutch international Lieke Martens also plays, lost to Lyon in Paris. Groenen held out hope for a victory until the final phase, when the decisive goal was scored.
Greens upset after missing out on Champions League final: ‘This is hard’
“I think there were opportunities today and last week to win and to continue,” says the midfielder with a trembling voice.
“We know that Lyon is a good team, but we know that there were also opportunities, so it hurts even more.”
Groenen was not dissatisfied with PSG’s play. “It felt okay this match, there was just something missing at the end.” And that is precisely what makes the defeat for the Dutch player so sad.
Happy Van de Donk
The one who is full of festive spirit is Van de Donk from Lyon. “This feels good, this is what you dream of, this feels very good,” she laughs afterwards.
Van de Donk after reaching the Champions League final: ‘This is what you dream of’
The Dutch international switched smoothly from midfield to attack. She repeatedly surprised the Parisian defense at the far post, where she almost provided a decisive cross in the final phase.
Magic of Lyon
What is the magic in her team? Van de Donk has not thought it all out very precisely: “I always say: it’s a bit of the Lyon atmosphere, we have to and want to go to the final.”
Now she and her team and compatriot Egurrola are in the final against FC Barcelona with the other Dutch international Esmée Brugts. Barcelona won the final for the third time in a row last year. Is it possible for Lyon to beat the Catalans?
Van de Donk: “Yes, anything is possible in football. I believe in our team, I think we can do a lot.”
Lyon beats PSG and advances to the Champions League final
