“This Loss Has Hurt Us A Lot,” Admits Coach Tommy Stroot

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The women’s Wolfsburg coach, Tommy Stroot, acknowledged that the 3-2 defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League final “has hurt a lot” because he believes that his team “has done many things well.”

“This defeat has hurt us a lot because we have done many things well. We were on the verge of winning the title. After the game I gave my players some time because we had to accept what was happening and I wanted to support my players. As in London (in the semi-finals) I saw happy faces, now I saw very sad faces,” Stroot explained at the post-match press conference.

His team went into the break with a 2-0 lead, but then Barça signed three goals in the second half.

“With 2-0 at halftime we had Barça where we wanted. We have seen a great game in Eindhoven today and, for what we have done, we are partly responsible for that great game”, he was proud.

“It has been a great way to teach what women’s football is. It has been a high-level game. We have seen an exceptional Barça, with great quality, but I also liked the way we played”, he insisted.

For this reason, Tommy Stroot considers it “very important” that more women’s soccer matches be broadcast on television.

“People have to watch big games like today’s. It’s something that we must achieve, that both FIFA and the televisions, and whoever, must favor,” he said.

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