OL Lyonnes defender Ashley Lawrence has stated her side is wary of Manchester United’s ‘fight’ ahead of the sides first competitive meeting on Wednesday.
Ashley Lawrence is Canadian footballer for the history books. Even at only 30 years old few others have had a greater impact on Canadian soccer, and there are still more than a few chapters left to write.
Lawrence, who recently won her 150th cap for her nation is also the Canadian player with the most all time appearances in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. This season she marries that experience with the side that has won the competition more than any other, OL Lyonnes. As well as linking up with the head coach that many consider to be the best in club football, Jonatan Giráldez.
Lawrence spoke to the media ahead of a trip to Leigh Sports Village to face Manchester United on Wednesday night and The Halfway Line was there to hear from her.
Ashley Lawrence wary of United ‘fight’
Of course, it was just last season that Ashley Lawrence was plying her trade on UK shores, so the prospect of facing one of England’s big guns is unlikely to phase her. The Canadian spent two years at Chelsea where she won four trophies, and she told The Halfway Line what she expected in facing Manchester United,
“I think it’s going to be a good game” Lawrence said.
“I’m definitely used to playing against them in the league the last couple of years, so I know that they’re a team that’s going to fight. They have talented players and they have experience as well.
“You know, even though they’re now just in the Champions League they’ve been playing together for quite some time, so they’ve been able to build the connections between their players, which takes time to build.
“It’s going to be a big test but we’re up for the challenge. And, you know, we also have our own threats to offer. So yeah, we’re going to come in confident. But again, we don’t take anything lightly, and it’s going to be a good game against United.”
Giráldez’s football the type Lawrence ‘loves to play’
Despite being in his first season as the OL Lyonnes head coach Jonathan Giráldez knows how to win the UWCL. The winner of two UWCL trophies with Barcelona playing a distinctive brand of football. Ashley Lawrence spoke about what playing under Giráldez has added to her game,
“Actually, I’ve learned a lot since pre-season” Lawrence noted.
“I would say one of the biggest things would be on positioning. A lot of times we talk about, like, tactically you know, playing with each other, building connections, technical ability, the importance of that, but positioning is so important.
“You know, it’s something that I knew about, but I would say the way that he’s explained in such detail I’ve never really heard before.
“So that’s something that I found fascinating, and I’m continuing to learn, and I think [for] all of us as players, all of us as a team, it’s something that is very important, and for me, that’s key that can make the difference for us in our performances.
“I think another thing is going into every game with the mentality that we want to win, and it isn’t an overconfidence, but it’s that we prepare. We know the efforts and the work that we put in every day, so that when we show up on game day, we’re ready and we’re confident that we’re going to get the result.
“So that’s more towards a mindset, and you know, it’s not a surprise when you see his track record with his previous clubs, how he was able to dominate and win, and not just win, [but] the way that he was able to win.
“And that’s the type of football that I love to play. And I think here at Lyon, we have the players for that as well. So, yeah, I would say it’s exciting just to see how we’re able to put things together and just bring what the coach has to offer on the field.”
Ashley Lawrence feels ‘like an older sister’ to Jayde Riviere
On Wednesday night Lawrence will come up against some familiar faces. Manchester United’s Canadian contingent of Simi Awujo and Jayde Riviere, both of whom Lawrence knows well. Riviere especially, another full back, is someone Lawrence knows well,
“So of course, we’re together on the national team” Lawrence said of Riviere.
“She is a player that joined after me, and we play a similar position, so we definitely have a lot of conversations when it comes to football.
“I like to take on that role of speaking to players on my team, helping them, if they have questions, they can always come to me, and I feel that with Jade, we have that type of relationship.
“She is very open, very willing to learn, to get better, to improve in every aspect. And I think that’s a very important trait to have as a player, especially as a younger player.
“I think she’s grown a lot throughout the years. And for her, playing at Manchester United, that’s that’s really good for her, a good test. And you know, now they’re in the Champions League as well.
“So playing in many different competitions, I think that can only help her and push her to improve. I would consider myself like, like a sister, like an older sister, and she knows that I’m here for her no matter what, if she needs anything. We’ve been able to develop that, that type of relationship.”
‘A lot of talent coming through’ for Canada says Ashely Lawrence
Since Lawrence began her career, the landscape of Canadian football has drastically changed. Gold medallists in Tokyo 2020 and now the country has it’s own domestic league in the Northern Super League. Lawrence spoke to The Halfway Line about her excitement for the future of Canadian football,
“The league, that’s something that’s so important to us as players” Lawrence asserted.
“You know we, we know the importance of having that in place for the next generations coming through. That they can have a place to develop and grow their game, that the option is there, that they can also play in Canada.
“Like before, it wasn’t an option. We had to go overseas, we had to go to Europe, we had to go play in America. But, yeah, so it’s massive.
“And you know, the first season, season is officially over, and I been always trying to follow from, you know, with the time difference and everything, but just trying to support as much as possible.
“And I know all the players on the national team are so happy, because this is just going to continue to open the player pool for Canada, but also just for women’s soccer as a whole, it can only help and push.”
Lawrence hails Olivia Smith who is ‘still very young but already shining bright’
Lawrence told The Halfway Line about two Canadians to look out for in the coming years, one playing overseas and one back home in Canada,
“There’s a lot of talent coming through” Lawrence said.
“And again, it was just the first year only [of the Northern Super League] so I’m sure there’s going to be, you know, more and more names coming through, more and more players that we’re going to see.
“Of course there’s a player that we already know, Olivia Smith. She’s still very young, but already shining bright, playing for Arsenal. She just scored in the last game, a really nice goal in their victory. So yeah, she’s doing really well.
“Another player that’s playing actually in there in the Northern Super League would be Holly Ward. She’s playing for Vancouver and they played in the final, they won, and she scored, actually, the winning goal. So she’s another, I would say, a player to look out for.”
Where to watch Manchester United vs OL Lyonnes?
Watch every match of the UEFA Women’s Champion League, live on Disney+ as part of existing customer subscriptions. Manchester United vs OL Lyonnes kicks off at 8pm GMT on Wednesday 10th December. You can tune in to watch live on Disney+ in the UK.
