Lair laps up Lyon success

Patrice Lair spoke of his "best moment as a coach" after his Olympique Lyonnais team defeated 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam 2-0 to become the first French club to win the UEFA Women's Champions League or its predecessor.

Goals from Wendie Renard and substitute Lara Dickenmann separated the sides, as Lyon's superior strength in depth told. Potsdam coach Bernd Schröder was gracious in defeat despite missing out on a third European crown, ruing the absence of striker Yuki Nagasato − injured whilst on international duty with Japan − but heaping praise on Lyon.

Patrice Lair, Lyon coach
The job's done and I came here for that. I won't say I was confident but considering the squad we have, the atmosphere − hats off to all of them. Emotionally it's a great moment, I think my best as a coach. I've enjoyed the whole season with this wonderful squad. Thanks also to the president, who gave us the resources; it's fantastic.

For Olympique Lyonnais winning the European Cup is fabulous. We've made history and it's a great moment. I'm thinking about my family, and sending them lots of love, but it's the girls who've enjoyed tonight the most.

We're a team who knows how to score goals. We slowed down a bit before half-time but then came back. The two players who came on gave us extra impetus, and Lara did what she had to do for her goal. But it was the whole team who got us this victory, even those who weren't on the field today.

Bernd Schröder, Potsdam coach
In the first half we just didn't find our way. Maybe it was because we haven't been together for five weeks, maybe not, you never know. The first goal was strange from our point of view. In the second half we had our chances, [Isabel] Kerschowski had a chance, but our main problem was in attack and not having Nagasato, our main striker, had a big impact on how we played.

Between the 55th and 65th minutes, maybe the 70th, Lyon were a bit flat and that's when our chances came, but it just wasn't to be. Then they came back at us and scored again, a nice goal, and that's the way it goes.

We were very well prepared for them, and knew they would be much stronger than last year, especially with [Lotta] Schelin and [Sonia] Bompastor, and that showed as they had lots of possession. The first goal could have been prevented but in the first half in general we didn't have any rhythm in midfield, we just didn't play together. We had to change our formation due to Nagasoto not being there, obviously that influenced the whole game and there's not a lot you can do about that.

This decision [on her fitness] was made this afternoon. Unfortunately she thought she'd make it but she didn't. Her presence is important and would have helped, but the mistakes lay in other parts of the team and that's something we have to work on.

From my point of view the disappointment isn't that great; it could have been worse as we played fairly well. The disappointment lies more with the players, some of whom are trying to promote themselves for the World Cup. In situations like that sometimes you create your own problems. I'm realistic and know we could have scored but it just wasn't to be.

You have to look at the game as a whole. We played against a very strong opponent and you have to give them credit for what they achieved. It's been a long season. We didn't win the final but we can celebrate what we've achieved.