Following Lyon’s heavy 4-0 loss to Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final, club captain Wendie Renard admitted the result failed to capture the true nature of the game.

Renard (OL captain after final defeat to Barcelona): “The scoreline is harsh, but in my view, it doesn’t reflect the match’s reality at all. Barcelona played with efficiency—congratulations to them. They are world-class players. Finals are level playing fields where every moment counts. They struck when it mattered, converting their chances ruthlessly. We didn’t manage to be as clinical, and that’s why we were punished. As I mentioned earlier, after the third and fourth goals, the match was effectively over. We pushed hard in the final stages, but they capitalized on our mistakes with swift counters. That’s football—we learn and keep working.”

Careers aren’t linear, nor are seasons. Once again, congratulations to Barcelona. This experience will serve our group well as we identify areas needing improvement. When you reach a final, you can’t afford to let that opportunity slip away. That’s life—this is football, and we must keep striving to improve.”