Arsenal, the current holders of the Women's Champions League, are set to take on Lyon in a semi-final clash on Sunday, proving that even in women's football, the universe has a sense of humor - or at least a scheduling algorithm.
Suzanne Wrack spoke to Olivia Smith, who has climbed the ladder so fast she's now in the unfamiliar territory of a second season at the same club for the first time in her senior career. "I do feel quite calm now, knowing that I have set down some roots here, but at the end of the day, football is football and you never know what’s next," she said. "So I’m always on my toes but, right now, I’m kind of laid-back, just enjoying the time here in the present with Arsenal and looking forward to winning more silverware and growing as a player and a person."
Meanwhile, in a moment of self-pep talk that would make any motivational speaker proud, one player recalled: "I sorted out my mind: 'Come on, Gigi,' I said to myself, and I gave myself strength: 'When the game is over you can stop playing football. Just take on this hour and a half and then say goodbye to it all.'"