Ann-Katrin Berger says Gotham’s 1-0 loss against Corinthians in the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup semi-final is ‘tough to swallow’.
Reacting to the shock defeat, the goalkeeper said, “I think we had quite a lot of good spells during the game so I think yes we should have won that game because we had more chances than them.” She added, “I’m very unlucky and very sad about it.”
Speaking on the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup as a whole, Berger contemplated, “It’s a good competition to just play part in because you always like to see what other countries can do and I think that’s why it’s a good competition.
“It’s unfortunate, obviously, that we don’t play in the final,” she went on. Gotham will instead face FAR Rabat in the tournament’s third-place playoff.
Inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup timing ‘a task’ says Berger
Questions have, however, been asked about the introduction of the Champions Cup by fans, journalists, and players alike. The football calendar is already packed, and a frequent topic of debate among its spectators. Was this the right time to stage another competition? Berger doesn’t think so.
“I’m not as fit that I want to be because we only had three weeks to prepare for that tournament,” she explained.
“It’s obviously already a task and ask from the players that actually have normally December and January off to compete,” the German international expressed.
The 35-year-old went on to suggest that the fixture’s lone goal, scored by the Corinthians’ Gabi Zanotti in the dying minutes of the match, could have been saved if the NWSL side has been able to compete at their best instead of during their off-season.
