City positive after Europe
Glasgow City returned from the UEFA Women’s Cup last night in positive mood.
Despite results not going their way, City’s learning curve following their historic achievement of reaching the last sixteen of Europe’s elite competition, has been massive.
Overwhelmingly, the First and Second Round qualification stages highlighted the vast difference in resources between Scottish Women’s football and their foreign female counterparts.
IIn the Second Round, City faced 3 professional sides – Norwegian’s Roa IL, Russian’s Zvezda 2005 and current European and German champions 1. FFC Frankfurt. If you can compare the fact that City had to work tirelessly over the past month to secure the finance able to compete in the last sixteen in the first place, flying via London as the direct flight was too expensive, to that of their opponents, it is very compelling.
City’s major downfall in the whole tournament was not being able to see their first opposition - Roa IL, play before they faced up. Conversely, Roa were able to send two delegates over to City’s Premier League Cup semi-final against Celtic 3 days before the tournament started.
Frankfurt are in a financial class all on their own and chartered their very own flight to get to Norway and flew extra players in on separate days as required. They also had almost as many background staff as City had players. Unfortunately, City had to do without some of their best players for this, the most crucial stage of the competition as they were unable to get time off work.
Russian side Zvezda are full time professionals, fully kitted out with money to burn, but yet don’t have a single sponsor– they don’t need to as their government and FA ensure they have all the finance necessary needed to succeed.
Over the three games and the last two in particular, City performed very well. The experience of playing at this level and knowing what to expect when the opportunity comes around again is worth its weight in gold. The difference is not in ability. After all, City held Frankfurt, arguably the best team in the world to 2-1 with less than a minute remaining in injury time. The difference is resources to be able to prepare properly and ensure you are able to have your best players with you. City can take great confidence in knowing what could have been achieved had a couple of these factors been more in their favour.
Perhaps even more important for Glasgow City was the opportunity for the team to work together for over two weeks on a full time basis as they competed in the first two rounds. Team spirit is at its highest level ever. The girls and the coaches know what they can achieve and look forward to putting this into practice for the rest of the domestic campaign.
The season will be tough, but Glasgow City has never been in a better mental or physical state to achieve their goals.
16.10.08
Pictures - top right - City keep a close eye on Frankfurt's Birgit Prinz
Pictures - middle right - City fans Irene and Una
Pictures - directly above -
City take to the field with European Champions 1. FFC Frankfurt
