07 December 2019

Lyon's Lucy Bronze says English clubs could learn from the way things are run at French league leaders

Lioness Lucy Bronze has said English clubs could benefit from copying her team Lyon's relationship with their players.

Bronze, who played for Liverpool and Manchester City before moving to Lyon in 2017, says her club asks for her insight into the game.

The 28-year-old said: “We have official meetings. Lyon are getting a lot of insight from foreigners that have experience of playing in these clubs – the [Manchester] Citys, the Arsenals – that have great facilities and are doing a lot of other things right.

"They’re like, ‘Lucy! What’s good? What’s bad?’ That’s something I could have done more of in England, especially in a team like City. 

"The players have so much of a voice and experience that these clubs aren’t seeing because they’re new to women’s football. I have a lot of those relationships higher up.

"[Captain] Wendie Renard does it a lot. If you’ve got a problem, she pulls her pants up and she’s off to speak to whoever. She’ll get stuff sorted.”

Bronze played for City for three years from 2014-2017 (PA Images)

Bronze's side is dominant in the French domestic league and within the Champions League, so much so that when Reims lost 8-3 to the legendary side they celebrated as they had managed to get three past them.

Bronze added: “It made us angry – not that they celebrated, but that they scored three goals. That was like a loss. It hit us hard and that’s expected from us every single day. 

"This year, I’ve had three weeks off. Apart from that, I’ve not had more than two consecutive days off in the entire year, in the season, since last Christmas.

"In England, they give you a lot of days off. In France, we’re in every single day and that’s why we win everything. I don’t see any other team that’s able to focus on every single competition, which is why we’re so constant in the way we train and play.”

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