2023-04-21 05:50:43
Lia Wälti will be, along with her Arsenal teammate Noelle Maritz and Barcelona striker Ana Crnogorcevic, one of the three Swiss women involved in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Already victorious in the English League Cup this season, the Bernese hopes to experience a good end to the club season before the 2023 World Cup, where she will be the conductor of the Swiss team.
Wälti has been flourishing for almost 5 years in London. Crowned with the Gunners in her first season in England during the 2018/19 financial year, the 30-year-old Emmentaloise lifted a second trophy with Arsenal in the League Cup. “We are very happy with this title and to be in the semi-finals of the Champions League.“, she confides.
“The English Premier League is incredibly exciting. There are a lot of good teams, it’s difficult to win the championship. But it’s so nice to play in full stadiums and play alongside world-class players.“, explains Wälti, who was on the pitch at the Leigh Sport Village near Manchester on Wednesday during Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to leaders Manchester United.
This setback relegates the London formation, 3rd, to 6 points from the Mancuniennes, with, however, one more game to play until the end of the season. Arsenal can therefore still hope to win a 16th national title and, why not, the 2nd coronation in its history in the Champions League after 2006/07. To do this, the Gunners will first have to eliminate Wolfsburg in the semi-finals. They will play in Germany, with the Bundesliga leaders, on Sunday afternoon (return match on May 1).
On the field, I am a leader, I willingly take responsibility. Next to football, I am a thoughtful person, sometimes a little too calm. I may be a bit impatient, but always ready to help others.
![Lia Walti. [Gary Oakley - Imago]]()
![Lia Walti. [Gary Oakley - Imago]](https://i0.wp.com/www.rts.ch/2023/04/20/18/04/13957365.image?w=320&h=320&ssl=1)
Under contract until June, Wälti does not yet know what tomorrow will bring. “I am open to all options. This may be my last long tenure professionally. I feel very good where I am, but if it’s not Arsenal I’m sure it will be a great club“. The former YB midfielder does not close any doors. She is also thinking about post-career and is already preparing for it by following distance sports management studies.
The Bernese, lover of children’s stories – she also dreams of writing them -, has followed a remarkable trajectory in football with always thoughtful and relevant choices. When the technical leader of the Swiss team is asked what the young Lia would think of the story of an Emmentaloise who became a professional player for a top club in England and captain of the National Team, she answers with a slight smile and a lot of humility: “She would be really proud I think. I never cherished this dream because there were no professional players when I was little. I liked to play and I got stronger and stronger, but I never thought of becoming this or that. Things just happened. It’s beautiful that now young girls can have this dream.“
Pfäffikon, Jennifer Ballmer and Ludovic Perruchoud
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