UWCL: Ingrid Engen and Jule Brand preview OL Lyonnes’ return clash against VfL Wolfsburg | OneFootball

Ingrid Engen, Jule Brand and OL Lyonnes are ready for their return clash against VFL Wolfsburg in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The eight-time champions are 1-0 down after their first leg defeat in the quarter-finals last week.

Ahead of their return home fixture this Thursday, the two former Wolfsburg players spoke to the media and ensured that it’s ‘very important to stick together’ following their deficit.

Last week marked a tight encounter between the two sides who had already met each other in this season’s UWCL campaign. Having lost 3-1 against Lyon in the league phase, Wolfsburg emphasised the importance of communication and tightening up their defence.

Their early experience proved vital as the German side came out victorious last week thanks to a deflected Lineth Beerensteyn effort in the 14th minute. The match saw Lyon dominate with almost 60 percent possession and 19 efforts. However, with just three on target, the record title-holders will hope to improve in the final third in their second leg.

Lyon record Champions League title holders

Having won the tournament eight times, Lyon will hope to overturn the first leg deficit to reach the semi-finals of the competition where they bowed out in the last campaign. If they prove successful, they will face either Chelsea or Arsenal. The latter currently has a 3-1 lead over their fellow England rivals.

Fans of OL Lyonnes will hope for a rendezvous with Arsenal who knocked them out last season in imperious fashion on their journey to European victory.

Ingrid Engen — who spent three years with Wolfsburg before joining Barcelona and winning two UWCL titles — insists the group must stay connected ahead of their second leg.

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“For us, it’s very important to stick together from the first minute after a game like that [last week]. It’s important to have focus on what we can do better as a team, and not find excuses. We know we didn’t do an amazing game and we were not at our best level, but we can’t lose the confidence in everything we’ve built up, just because we lose one game.”

Having kept the deficit to just one goal, the versatile Norwegian insists there is ‘everything to play for’. Now Jule Brand, who has never tasted Champions League glory, stresses how she is in the right place to make that dream come true.

The 23-year-old left her native Germany after three years in the green of Wolfsburg, to sign for OL Lyonnes. Having lost in the 2022/23 final against Barcelona, when Wolfsburg had a two goal advantage, Brand believes Lyon can help her achieve the dream of UWCL glory.

“I feel in every training that everyone has the ambition to win the Champion League every season,” she said. “I feel like everyone really has the dream [to win].”

Advantages of a home crowd

Lyon will return to the Groupama Stadium this Thursday and having a home crowd behind them is something the players will ‘look forward to’.

Engen praised the club’s advertising of the game while stressing the importance of a home crowd. She said: “I have to say having our crowd there and the build-up from the club around this game has been really good.

“To be able to have that atmosphere is definitely gonna help us and it was important for us to get high in the group stage to get that game at home. It’s kind of a security and confidence for us and obviously we’re gonna do everything to win it.”

Mitigating Wolfsburg’s high-line

One tactic that remained prominent throughout the first-leg was Wolfsburg’s choice to play balls over the top to utilise the pace of Beerensteyn. Additionally, Janou Levels in her pre-match press conference, stress the importance of being aggressive and not allowing the Lyon midfield time or space on the ball.

“I think analysing Wolfsburg, they are a very direct team and we knew that they were gonna go for the transitions,” said Engen.

“It’s not only about the high line, but about everything we do to win back the ball as fast as possible.”

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Playing out from the back and utilising the strength of the Lyon midfield is something that has been key within Engen’s game this season.

Having played under Jonatan Giráldez before in Spain, the 27-year-old admits she feels comfortable playing in defence.

“I like to have the ball a lot, and being a midfielder before, it’s something I’m used to. But it’s also nice to have the game in front of me. I feel I have the strengths to defend the space in front of me and behind. It’s been great to develop in the last years and I feel very comfortable there now, helping the team as much as I can.”

Although the defender admits it’s ‘impossible to be perfect all the time’, she acknowledges Giráldez’s winning mentality which pushes the team to be their best.

Jule Brand adapting to life at OL Lyonnes

The attacker admits she is still ‘learning’ following her summer move from Wolfsburg where she was a mainstay in the starting 11.

Last season, Brand started all bar two league games. Yet this season, she has started just half of the league matches. Despite this, the German international has almost matched her goal and assist tally from last season.

The rotation was something the 23-year-old was aware of ahead of her move, but insists being around the best players in the world is beneficial.

“I’m learning and training from the best players and I try to adapt to this.. I’m still learning and just enjoy being here. If I’m starting or if I’m coming from the bench, I just try to help the team and yeah, I’m really enjoying it and I’m very happy to help the team.”

For viewers at home, you can watch every match of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, live on Disney+ as part of existing customer subscriptions.

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