What is your state of form before this World Cup, especially after being out of action for a long time due to injuries? Ada Hegerberg: I was able to finish the season well with the OL team collectively and individually. I got stronger. There was a fairly intense period because I came back to the home stretch of the season with some very important matches. I feel good. It was a tiring season because it took a lot of courage and a lot of work to get back to my level. I’m very proud of it. I never doubted.
How is your return to the national team going after five years of absence because you disputed the lack of professionalism? It’s going well, in a good group. There is always work to be done in selection. Being part of it again makes me feel good. It can give me more opportunities to contribute to women’s football on and off the pitch. With a new federation president, Lise Klaveness, very involved in developing women’s football, this can be a very good thing.
How does this World Cup look like for Norway? I don’t think we can be said to be among the favourites. We have a lot of qualities, desire. We must be ambitious but also realistic. Our latest results have not been very good. We want to show a better image of Norway. It takes a lot of preparation, having a close-knit group and playing on individual quality to form a team.
But Norway was one of the best nations in women’s football… Yes, we have quite a history with titles of world champions (1995), Olympic champions (2000). But in recent years, it has become a little harder. We fell asleep. That doesn’t mean we can’t do anything more because we have some quality players. But you have to put them all together to give the best for the team. It’s very interesting. I’m eager to.
What can we expect from this World Cup for the evolution of the game? There is always a great atmosphere at the big tournaments, with countries that come to light, populations that find themselves behind their selection as at the last World Cup (in France in 2019, Editor’s note) with then a craze for the discipline. There is never a problem with the public. This is what we expect with this World Cup which will again meet with great popular success. It will be up to us to produce a beautiful game.
What do you think of the recent changes in the France team? I have international teammates in Lyon. We talked quite a bit with Wendie Renard, with whom I share the same vision of women’s football. For her, the arrival of Hervé Renard seems to be a real catalyst. He is a very experienced technician, who won in selection. The World Cup comes early with a new coach but Les Bleues have the talent to do well.
And changes at the head of Olympique Lyonnais? We had an extraordinary adventure with (president) Jean-Michel Aulas. What he did was exceptional. His departure is a bit emotional and goes beyond football. Michele Kang (majority shareholder of OL Women) is a very impressive woman, particularly with the way she approaches the place of women in general and her desire to achieve yet another dimension for our team. You have to be optimistic and demanding.
You have one year left on your contract at Lyon…I appreciate the fact that the club want to keep me and I have one year left on your contract. I spoke with Michele but for the time being, the club has not come forward with my agents.
