Asllani and Seger: Paris can bounce back

Four months on from knocking out arch-rivals Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16, not everything has been going Paris Saint-Germain's way.

After a promising run they lost their last two competitive games, played in February, beaten by EA Guingamp on penalties in the French Cup round of 16 then defeated 4-0 at home to Lyon to effectively end their league title hope. Still, a first European quarter-final awaits and Paris are strong favourites to get the better of Glasgow City FC. Ahead of Sunday's away leg, Sweden duo Kosovare Asllani and Caroline Seger spoke to UEFA.com.

On what the UEFA Women's Champions League means ...

Kosovare Asllani: It means a lot; it means a lot for this club and for every player here. It's one of the club's ambitions to win the Champions League, so it's a high goal that we have and it's a high goal for us in the team. We want to reach that goal.

Caroline Seger: It's very important. Obviously it's a big tournament. Last year I lost the final [with Tyresö FF], so I don't want to repeat that. And obviously it's a big goal for me but also my team-mates of course.

On the importance of a long run ...

Asllani: It means everything because right now that's the only thing we have, almost, after losing in recent weeks [in the French league and cup]. So it means everything and we're going to put everything in there and do everything to go as far as possible

Seger: For the club it's a very big goal and for the team too. I mean, it's every player's ambition to win the big leagues and the big tournaments in general. I know everyone here is working for that – we've been working really hard to be able to be where we are today. I hope we continue and that we can make it to the next round.

On beating Lyon in the round of 16 ...

Asllani: It means a lot, especially in the head, the mental [side] – it's very important for us to have beaten them in the Champions League. So I think we feel confident, but we know it doesn't mean anything right now. We need to put in the work and we need to work so hard to get to the next step.

Seger: I know the past here has been very hard for all the players – you know, losing every year. So going into the Champions League second round and playing against our big rivals, it was a very big step for this club to be able to beat them ... especially in a big tournament like the Champions League. So you see, anything can happen in this tournament. You have to be ready.

On Glasgow City ...

Asllani: I don't know a lot about them, but I'm confident our coaches are going to scout them and are going to tell us everything. Right now I only know that they play in orange ... that's the only thing.

Seger: So far I don't know so much about them – I mean, I don't much about the league. But I've played against the Scotland national team so I know some players but I don't know if they play for Glasgow. But I know British teams in general are very hard and strong and physically very, very strong. I think it's going to be a tough game.

On being favourites for the tie ...

Asllani: Yes, it's [not something] we can hide. Right now we are one of the teams in the world that puts the most resources into women's football, so we are definitely the favourites going into this leg. But we know it's going to be hard, because it's Scotland and they are physical, so it'll be two tough games.

Seger: In the Champions League, you know you only have two games to be able to go through and every single minute counts. And if we don't have a good result away, it's harder. So [being favourites] will not change the state of mind of our players.