Bayern Munich star Vanessa Gilles says the secret to winning is not simply skill, it’s culture and togetherness | OneFootball

Canadian Olympic hero Vanessa Gilles is a serial winner. The Canadian has previously won trophies in Cyprus, France, and on the international stage and is looking to add more with Bayern. Having signed for Bayern Munich this season, the legendary centre-back has hit the ground running, already helping the German side to their first trophy this season.

Having left Lyon with 5 trophies over her short stay, it’s no surprise the German giants came knocking on Gilles’ door. Alongside Bayern stars Georgia Stanway, Lena Oberdorf, Pernille Harder, and Magdelena Eriksson, their intent is clear from the offset: to win as much as possible.

A successful culture

Things are going well for Bayern Munich at the moment. The six-time Bundesliga champions sit in the qualification spots in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. They also sit first in the Bundesliga, leading their bitter rivals VfL Wolfsburg by six points, so far remaining unbeaten in the league.

Their winning culture is by no means accidental. Bringing a serial winner like Vanessa Gilles into the fold is just another part of a larger puzzle of success at Bayern.

“A big reason [Bayern] brought me in is because of my leadership, for my experience,” Gilles admitted candidly. “I guess the two go hand-in-hand. I would hope also for my quality on the pitch too,” she joked.

KARLSRUHE, GERMANY – AUGUST 30: Vanessa Gilles of Bayern Munich lifts the Google Pixel Frauen Supercup trophy after the team’s victory in the Google Pixel Supercup 2025 match between FC Bayern München and VfL Wolfsburg at BBBank Wildpark on August 30, 2025 in Karlsruhe, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

“I think also as well on a serious note for my personality. I’m someone who can adapt easily, I’m positive and hardworking. I think that clicks very well with the DNA of this team,” she confessed. “The culture that has been set here is that nobody is above the team,” Gilles continued.

“There’s no ‘one star’ here. I think that’s probably very German. If we’re going to win, we’re going to win collectively. I think that’s very much Canadian culture too, so it’s been really fun to be a part of.”

A flying-start

There is usually an expected period of adjustment given to a new signing in a big team, especially when the player transfers from a club abroad. Gilles though, has defied that tradition, scoring three goals in her first four games as a defender, no less.

“It’s been really easy to adapt,” Gilles admitted. “It’s clicked right away, which is why it was so easy for the other new recruits, whether it’s myself, Stina [Ballisager Pedersen], Natalia [Padilla] and fit in right away. I feel like if you aren’t a serial winner, you don’t make it at this level and I think that goes for anybody playing Champions League. I think if you don’t have that hunger, you won’t make it very far,” Gilles summarised.

Unfinished business in the UWCL

Gilles has no shortage of UWCL experience as Bayern look to conquer the competition for the first time. The Canadian international reached the final in 2024 during her time with the competition’s perennial favorites, Lyon, only to be beaten 2-0 by winners Barcelona.

That sort of experience is exactly the insight Bayern were looking for when they signed Gilles. “You need to be a team to win something like the Champions League,” Gilles went on to clarify. “You don’t need the most expensive contract, you don’t have to be the most skilful player, and you don’t have to have a totally stacked team to win a trophy.” She claimed.

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – AUGUST 06: Gold medalists Evelyne Viens and Vanessa Gilles of Team Canada pose with their medals during the Women’s Football Competition Medal Ceremony on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at International Stadium Yokohama on August 06, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

“You need to peak at the right moment.” The Olympic gold medallist confirmed. “You need the right culture, you need to have the right leadership in place, you need to play together as one. That’s what you need to win the Champions League”.

The secret to winning

Bayern are firing on all cylinders this season; apart from an out-of-character drubbing at the hands of Barcelona, the team are unbeaten. The UWCL may seem like a high prize to aim for, considering the team haven’t been to the final previously, but the players are taking one step at a time.

“I think that’s the beauty of winning trophies,” Gilles added. “I think we have a lot of the ingredients here. Obviously, we need to improve in certain areas, but I think the next step for this club is that we want to compete on the European stage. That’s what attracted me to this team, the ambition.”

“I think we have the skill for it; it’s now up to us to work our way up to it and to peak at that right moment and really believe.” The pacy centre-back took a moment before continuing. “We need to step on that pitch, like other champions have and act like we own it. The skill we have here, that’s something I try to push the other players, to just know that they’re at that level, to just know that they can and will win. They should walk the walk and talk the talk as well.” Gilles summarised.

What comes next for Gilles and Bayern Munich

Confidence should be no problem for this side as they now approach key fixtures in their season. Bayern will face joint bottom of the UWCL league stage Paris Saint-Germain on the 20th November. A win will see the German outfit push higher up the table towards automatic qualification.

Their league campaign will see the side next face Hoffenheim just three days after on the 23rd November as they look to extend their league lead.

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