Fran Alonso: We will give our best to try and create more Euro history | OneFootball

Celtic FC Women’s boss, Fran Alonso is hopeful that his squad can replicate the level of performance against Brondby as they gear up to take on Valerenga on Saturday.

After defeating the Danish side 1-0, the Ghirls now advance to face the Round One mini-group hosts, with a place in the next round up for grabs.

It was a historic day for the club on Wednesday afternoon as the Celts picked up their first ever victory in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

That is a feeling that maybe took some time to sink in for Fran Alonso and his squad. However, it was quickly down to work ahead of Saturday’s game.

He said: “Obviously it took a while to hit me, but the next day we were already focused on the next game, because we watched Valerenga in the evening.

“It was a day of full enjoyment, but the next day focus on the business ahead.”

Having watched the Norwegian side in action previously, and also on Wednesday evening as they overcame Minsk, the Spaniard is well aware of the task that lies ahead.

Despite the fact that the Ghirls face tough opposition, Alonso believes the strengths of his side could help overcome the threat which Valerenga pose.

The Hoops also come into this game with a perfect winning record to start the campaign, which they will be hoping to maintain this weekend.

“Valerenga will be a very hard team to beat,” he said. “I think the front three, especially two of them are world-class players.

“They are very difficult to stop and they impressed us when we watched them. We were already aware of them, but they were fantastic against Minsk.

“I think our strengths could exploit some of their weaknesses. So obviously it will be a very hard game, probably one of the hardest opponents we have played.

“But I don’t think the team could be in better form. Despite the fatigue of playing three games in a week, we will have a chance.

“We will have to be almost perfect. If we are not perfect, then we don’t have as much of a chance, but we can do.

“On paper, Brondby were a very experienced team that we have little chance against, but we won and I think we deserved to win. For me, that is just as important.

“We have a new opportunity tomorrow to put in practice what we have been doing this season. We are playing the best football we have ever played whilst I am here.

“That gives me a lot of confidence that we could have a good game against a really good side.

“But we are also a good side and hopefully we can achieve our dream.”

After around four years as head coach of the Ghirls, Alonso believes that Saturday’s game will be the toughest the Celts have faced during that time.

That being said, if they can replicate the effort levels put in during the win over Brondby then there is chance to create more history.

Alonso insists that he is looking forward to the challenge ahead, with the reward being a place in next stage of the competition.

He said: “I would say this will be the most challenging game in my four years with the club. But the reward would be so amazing.

“We are so looking forward to the game and we are going to give our best, like we always do.’

“I like the attitude, the confidence of the girls and I like the performance we put in against Brondby.

“Maybe in the first 15 minutes, we were a little bit nervous on Wednesday. But after that I thought we controlled the game against a superb side.

“So I am hoping we will be able to do something similar against Valerenga if we are at our very best."

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