Personal glory second for Lyon midfielder Abily
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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Player of the match in the last two finals, Camille Abily told UEFA.com she would settle for someone else taking personal glory – as long as Olympique Lyonnais earn a third straight title.
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Player of the match in the last two UEFA Women's Champions League finals, Camille Abily would settle for someone else taking the personal glory – as long as she can help Olympique Lyonnais to a third straight triumph.
Abily starred at London's Craven Cottage two years ago as Lyon beat 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam 2-0 and 12 months later stood out again as they overcame 1. FFC Frankfurt by the same scoreline in Munich. Now they are back in the English capital to take on a third German team, VfL Wolfsburg, at Stamford Bridge on Thursday and the France midfielder is looking forward to the occasion.
"It is one of Olympique Lyonnais' objectives and we are very happy to be in the final again," Abily told UEFA.com. "We hope that it will end the same way as in the last two years and that we will manage to win."
Even for a team that play all their European home games at Stade de Gerland, stepping out at Stamford Bridge is special. "Yes it is fantastic," Abily said. "Chelsea won the Champions League last season. They have won the Europa League this year. We have the chance to play in their stadium; for us it is really fantastic. I hope that there will be a lot of spectators and that the atmosphere will be great."
Lyon are in their fourth successive final and their tally of major honours is in double figures. Wolfsburg, by contrast, are making their European debut and had never acquired a significant trophy until the last fortnight, during which they have completed the German double.
"They are a strong team," Abily said. "They play very well as a team and they have great individual players – especially their strikers, [Conny] Pohlers, [Alexandra] Popp – and [Nadine] Kessler in midfield as well. They have some great players and we know that it will be a very tough game."
Naturally, then, any victory is welcome, with Abily not concerned about keeping hold of her own distinction as player of the match. "What I wish the most is that we win and that a Lyon player gets this award," she said. "This would mean that we won. If it's me, even better. If it's one of my team-mates, then it's also good."
