The “will to want to win every game” reason for Bayern victory against Benfica
“It was a very tough game. The Lisbon players were very present from the start and also better in the duels. We had to acknowledge that.” This was the assessment of Bayern midfielder Klara Bühl after the last UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage game on Wednesday.
Bayern struggled at the FCB Campus against Benfica Lisbon. Nevertheless, they were able to prevail 2-0 in the end. Bühl played a significant part with her two goals scored in the second half: “I think we managed to play better [then]. Especially the first goal brought more calmness and security into the game.”
Sarah Zadrazil had only words of praise for her teammates: “Super pass from Georgia, Klara ice-cold in front of the goal. That’s the individual class that we have in our team. I’m glad that we have such players in our ranks who can decide a game like that.”
First half: “late in the duels, too slow with the decisions”
Especially in the first half, the guests made it difficult for the FCB. “We knew that it would be a very tough game. In the first half you could see that we were a bit slow in the head, everyone was a bit late in the duels, too slow with the decisions,” explained Zadrazil.
The game changed positively for Bayern after the break. “I think we did much better in the second half. We made great use of our counterattacks and deserved to win 2-0. But we knew that Benfica is a great team and that it would be a real battle,” said Zadrazil.
The Austrian international had a lot planned for the match: “Before the match I said ‘We are undefeated here, we have won all our matches here at home during the season. We want to continue that.’ That’s why I’m happy that we’ve now won 2-0.”
The subtle difference
Goalkeeper Mala Grohs analysed the variables that made the difference in the game in the end: “The will that we want to win every game here, and then in the end also our quality. We just played well down the field. Quality wins games.”
But she also recognised the strength of the guests: “The opponent made it difficult for us. We all made a few mistakes at the beginning, so we weren’t too happy with that, but we said we wanted to step it up again. The second half was better.”
Bühl has an explanation for the slow start: “I think we were just not one hundred per cent there with our mind. I don’t know what the reason was. I think we as a team have to analyse that again, start and get into the duels – maybe also be one step quicker than the opponent.”
Grohs sums it up: “In the end I was very satisfied. We set out to play well again and also to win, even if it wasn’t this necessary. We always want to win and to go into the break with a positive game is of course nicer.”
2022: The year of Mala Grohs
The Bayern goalkeeper was particularly pleased about not conceding any goals: “It was very important. No conceded goals is always the best and in the Champions League it was the same last week. I had already planned to not concede any goals again, so I’m very happy.”
It was a very successful year for Grohs in particular. The young goalkeeper played every game with Bayern this season and was nominated for the German senior national team for the first time.
“I’m totally happy, of course. I didn’t expect to have suddenly played every game. And yes, I’m not one hundred per cent satisfied with every performance, but overall I think I’ve already made a few steps forward, so now I need a bit of time to process it.”
It has also been a successful year for women’s football in general.
“I think the European Championship sparked a hype here in Germany as well and I’m just really happy that it lasted,” Zadrazil sums up.
“We were able to play in the big stadiums. There were a lot of people in the stadium. It makes me proud that women’s football is developing like this and I hope it continues in the next few years. I think there is still room for improvement. I’m just looking forward to seeing where it goes.”
Next destination: winter break!
Now it’s finally time for the well-deserved winter break for all the players.
“We all love playing football, there’s no question about it, and there are always great games”, Bühl explains the current emotional situation. “Of course, the European Championship was excellent, but the last few weeks have also shown that the body needs a break, because you only had one week after the Euros. That’s why the break is incredibly important for us now. We will all enjoy the time at home, fill up the tank mentally and physically and then start again in January.”
Zadrazil is also looking forward to a time with less stress: “Just having time with the family, going home. Christmas is always a family celebration. I’m really looking forward to just coming down a bit and then getting back into full swing again.”
Grohs, too, will go home to her family. But one thought remains in the back of her mind, because she will soon have to “start studying for university. The exam period is coming. The last few weeks were really a bit full with two games per week. I didn’t do that much, so I have to catch up a bit.”
The break is not all that long. At the beginning of January, the training camp in Doha will continue, followed by a short trip to Mexico.
