For one side, the duel between VfL Wolfsburg and Olympique Lyon is a game between two teams predicted to face each other in the final, for the other, it is the ‘der Klassiker’ of international women’s football. But above all, it’s a return home for Dzsenifer Marozsan. As of last summer, the Germany women’s team captain has been under contract in Lyon.
In this DFB.de interview, the 24-year-old comments on her feelings ahead of the quarter-final first leg game in Wolfsburg on Thursday (20:15 CET). Additionally, Marozsan explains why the move to France was definitely the right decision, and how she sees the DFB squad faring in the European Championship in the Netherlands in three months time.
DFB.de: Ms. Marozsan, does the return to Germany give you tingles?
Dzsenifer Marozsan: It’s definitely a special game for me. I’m excited for two reasons: firstly, because it’s a return to Germany for me, and secondly, in my opinion it’s a game between the two best women’s teams in the world. It’s not necessarily an early final because I also rate Bayern München and Paris St. Germain amongst the best, but it is at minimum a game between two sides that have been historically dominant in the Champions League. Lyon or Wolfsburg have won the title five times between them in six years, with 1. FFC Frankfurt winning the other time almost two years ago.
DFB.de: You were recently with some Wolfsburg players during your time with the Germany women’s team in the USA for the SheBelieves Cup. Was the Champions League matchup already a conversation topic then?
Marozsan: We spoke about it now and then but not particularly intensively, I find it better that way. The stakes for this game are high indeed, so having a gap between the SheBelieves Cup and this game doesn’t hurt. Both teams want to advance to the semi-final at all costs. I’m genuinely excited to see what will happen. I’m expecting a very intense game.
DFB.de: So an even game as well?
Marozsan: Definitely, yes. I can’t see either team going through with ease. The details will be decisive. We’re prepared for that.
For one side, the duel between VfL Wolfsburg and Olympique Lyon is a game between two teams predicted to face each other in the final, for the other, it is the ‘der Klassiker’ of international women’s football. But above all, it’s a return home for Dzsenifer Marozsan. As of last summer, the Germany women’s team captain has been under contract in Lyon.
In this DFB.de interview, the 24-year-old comments on her feelings ahead of the quarter-final first leg game in Wolfsburg on Thursday (20:15 CET). Additionally, Marozsan explains why the move to France was definitely the right decision, and how she sees the DFB squad faring in the European Championship in the Netherlands in three months time.
DFB.de: Ms. Marozsan, does the return to Germany give you tingles?
Dzsenifer Marozsan: It’s definitely a special game for me. I’m excited for two reasons: firstly, because it’s a return to Germany for me, and secondly, in my opinion it’s a game between the two best women’s teams in the world. It’s not necessarily an early final because I also rate Bayern München and Paris St. Germain amongst the best, but it is at minimum a game between two sides that have been historically dominant in the Champions League. Lyon or Wolfsburg have won the title five times between them in six years, with 1. FFC Frankfurt winning the other time almost two years ago.
DFB.de: You were recently with some Wolfsburg players during your time with the Germany women’s team in the USA for the SheBelieves Cup. Was the Champions League matchup already a conversation topic then?
Marozsan: We spoke about it now and then but not particularly intensively, I find it better that way. The stakes for this game are high indeed, so having a gap between the SheBelieves Cup and this game doesn’t hurt. Both teams want to advance to the semi-final at all costs. I’m genuinely excited to see what will happen. I’m expecting a very intense game.
DFB.de: So an even game as well?
Marozsan: Definitely, yes. I can’t see either team going through with ease. The details will be decisive. We’re prepared for that.
DFB.de: Is finding another gear against an opponent like Wolfsburg difficult? In the French league, Lyon win a lot of their games with ease.
Marozsan: No, absolutely not. It’s improving in the French league, but Lyon have always turned it on in the big games throughout the last few years. Therefore I have no doubt that we’ll do the same against Wolfsburg.
DFB.de: Are you keeping an eye on the Allianz Women Bundesliga?
Marozsan: Of course. I follow what happens in Germany religiously. Whenever I can, I watch the games on TV or on DFB-TV. The quality has improved steadily in recent years: in Germany there are no more easy games. There are upsets somewhere every single weekend, and that’s a good thing.
DFB.de: Potsdam, München and Wolfsburg are at the top of the table.
Marozsan: In the long run, the quality of the squads at each club has shone through, but teams like Freiburg and Essen are making up the ground. Frankfurt too, who are in a rebuilding phase, should never be written off. Potsdam have been in a similar position in years past, but they’re potentially stronger now than they were then. I have faith in Frankfurt too. That’s my take on the league at a glance.
DFB.de: How are you finding the quality in France?
Marozsan: It’s developing in the right direction here too, but it’s still the case that Lyon and Paris vie for the title above the other teams. Paris are indeed dangerous opponents this year, and we were unlucky to lose our first game 1-0 against them in December. We have to win the reverse fixture against them in April if we want to win the title, and we can’t allow any slip-ups until then, so it’s by no means already won.
DFB.de: You’ve now been at Lyon for almost a year. How have you enjoyed your time there so far?
Marozsan: First and foremost, I want to stress how difficult it was for me to leave Germany, but I haven’t regretted the step at any point so far. I was received fantastically in Lyon. The intensity of each training session is unbelievably high, and the move from Frankfurt was exactly what I needed to develop further as a person. It wasn’t always easy, mainly because I missed my family and friends from time to time. Having said that, it has been an important time in my life during which I’ve learned a lot. In addition, Josephine Henning and Pauline Bremer are here too. We’re a tight German group, who help each other out, and that certainly makes everything that much easier.
DFB.de: You were with both on international duty in America for the SheBelieves Cup. What insights have you brought back with you?
Marozsan: The most important thing for me, is that we’re definitely on the right track. We lost narrowly to the USA, drew 0-0 with France, and beat England 1-0. They were opponents who are undoubtedly amongst the best in the world. We were at least consistently their equal and only conceded one goal, but on the other hand we also only scored the one goal.
DFB.de: So you’re defensively solid but have to work on your attack?
Marozsan: No, I don’t think this evaluation is correct in my opinion. You can’t separate defence and attack from one another so clearly – both are dependent on the other. We created a lot of chances, but we have to be more clinical in front of the opposition goal. A lot has changed since we won the gold medal at the Olympics last year. Important players have left and new talent has emerged, which is fantastic, but a process like that does take time.
DFB.de: Is there enough time before the beginning of July’s European Championship in the Netherlands?
Marozsan: I’m not worried about that at all. We showed in the USA that we’re a force to be reckoned with. When we work on a few more things a bit further, we’ll become even stronger. We’re going to Holland as favourites to win it all. We want to bring the European Championship back to Germany again.
DFB.de: The new manager Steffi Jones named you captain. Have you gotten used to your new responsibilities?
Marozsan: I haven’t seen any massive differences so far. I have somewhat more responsibility and a bigger role to play in public. Personally, being captain hasn’t changed much. For me, the continued success of the team is what is most important, and nothing will ever change that. Everything I do, I do for the team. Only together can we be successful and achieve our goals.
