Damaris Egurrola, Netherlands international and Olympique Lyonnais midfielder, addressed the media ahead of the second leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final against Arsenal on Sunday. The French giants hold a narrow lead in the tie after edging the Gunners in front of a 40,000+ strong crowd at the Emirates last weekend.
Reflecting on Lyon’s form and physical dominance, Egurrola spoke with assurance.
“We’ve always been a top team. We prepared the season in a really good way. We had a really hard preseason,” she told reporters, “so that’s why nowadays we’re in the position we are. I feel that we are stronger than ever and we have a lot of players with that characteristic that they can make the difference also physically.”
The 25-year-old has become a pillar in Lyon’s midfield and emphasised the sense of belonging and responsibility she feels at the club, explaining that “on a personal level, I’m very happy. As I always say, I think it’s the place to be for me. I’ve been here for four years. I feel really confident in the team, with the coach, with the club.”
Egurrola also spoke about the transition under new head coach Joe Montemurro, who took the reins after Sonia Bompastor took the Chelsea role at the start of the 2024/25 season. The midfielder revealed that ”Sonia gave me a lot of confidence also the last two years, but now Joe came in, [and I] had the same role, just to be managing the midfield, giving tempo of the game. I’m really happy with the job [we’ve done] until now, but the most important thing is starting right now when we play Champions League semi-finals, finals, league finals. So yeah, that’s the moment for me to step up my game also. But, it’s easier when you have the confidence of the team and the coaches as I have.”
Despite holding a one-goal lead after the first leg, the Lyon midfielder insists there’s no room for complacency.
“There’s still a lot to play for, but I think we have plenty of experience with these kinds of draws. We have a small advantage, but I think we’re really ready to start the game as it would be 0-0 and as it would be the first game to play. We have to play on that. We play at home. We knew what we did wrong, what we did correctly in the first game. That’s why we’re working this week to be better at those things and hopefully we’ll have an even better game and even better results.”
Lyon are no stranger to the biggest stage in European football. The club have lifted the UWCL trophy a record eight times, most recently in 2022. Last season, they fell to Barcelona in the final, which was held in Bilbao. Experience, Egurrola believes, is one of their strongest weapons.
“I wouldn’t say [it’s] the deciding factor, but I think it’s beneficial for us. We have plenty of players that have been in this scenario a few times. Myself also, and we learn from it year after year – so I think it’s also something contagious, that experience.”
“But we first have to focus on the game itself, on football itself, preparing the best we can. And we had a good game in Emirates, but I think we can do way better still. So it’s about performing and making it a good game and hopefully getting that pass to the final,” she explained to the media.
The bond within the Lyon squad is another element she credits for their success.
“We have one of the best teams in the world because we’re surrounded by a really good team, really good people, so I think that’s really important that we all connect really well.”
Lyon will host Arsenal for the decisive second leg on Sunday 27 April, at Parc Olympique Lyonnais. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:00 BST [18:00 CEST].