Amandine Henry (34), who left Olympique Lyonnais in June and joined American franchise Angel City FC in Los Angeles, has been recalled by Hervé Renard and is in the squad for both matches against Norway in the League of Nations (October 27 and 31).
How did you experience your injury before the World Cup in Australia? Amandine Henry: This summer, it was very emotional between my selection, after more than two years of absence, and the injury. I had a torn calf which prevented me from going to the World Cup. I just needed a few weeks of rest but it was impossible to play in the World Cup. Fortunately, signing in the United States allowed me to move forward. I was surrounded by my partner and my family. Thanks to this challenge, I was able to quickly move on to something else: a new life, new stadiums, infrastructure, a new language to learn. The game is also different, the matches are as intense as international matches. It is a question of culture. In the United States, they have been professional for years. The championship is more homogeneous. Whether you play against the first or the last, you don’t know if you’re going to win. It’s more attractive.
The season is over with Angel City FC after your elimination against OL Reign on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the United States Championship (NWSL). How do you imagine the next few months? The next season starts again in March. My teammates are on vacation until then, but I’m not going to take that much. The goal for me is to find a club in Europe and to be able to train with this club to keep myself in shape. For one or two months, it would only be to participate in training then sign in January (Editor’s note, during the winter transfer window), to play a few matches and still apply for the France team.
How did you feel leaving OL? It was disappointing, it wasn’t a fairy tale, it didn’t end in the best possible way. You have to know how to bounce back. I remained on good terms with the management, it was just with the coach that it did not end very well (Editor’s note, Sonia Bompastor). I’m not bitter and embittered, the club has given me a lot. I experienced so many beautiful emotions that I will never be able to say anything bad about the club. But it is certain that if I had been able to choose, I would have liked to end my career in Lyon (…). There was disagreement and promises not kept by the coach. I preferred to leave to avoid any problems and not end my career embittered.
With Les Bleues, you played your first minutes against Portugal in the Nations League in September, then started in Austria. Do you think you have the trust of Hervé Renard? I can never thank him enough for selecting me after my long absence. Today, he is the one who gives me back my confidence and the desire to work. The French team remains a little girl’s dream. So I give my all for him, on the pitch. The Olympic Games are the goal at the end of the season, it will happen quickly. It’s a dream to be able to play the Olympics in your country, I will work all season to get there.
Could the Olympics be your last experience with Les Bleues? Yes, I am aware of that, but I have not set a limit for myself. I tell myself that it might be the last, but it’s not certain. Every competition, I tell myself you have to enjoy it and perform well. You have to give everything and regret nothing, because winning a title at home is wonderful.
