Morgan overwhelmed by Champions League win

Alex Morgan said it was an ‘incredible feeling’ to win her first Champions League title on a night of mixed emotions for the US forward after Lyon beat rivals PSG 7-6 on penalties. The 27-year-old was surprisingly named in the Lyon starting line up for the final in Cardiff, less than three weeks after suffering a hamstring injury that ruled her out of the final of the Coupe de France (French Cup Final), and all but ruled her out of Thursday night’s showpiece.

However, Morgan lined up alongside fellow forwards Ada Hegerberg and Eugenie Le Sommer as Coach Gérard Prêcheur named an attacking lineup in his final match in charge of the side. Sadly for Morgan, the risk to start her backfired as she suffered a recurrence of her hamstring injury early on and was replaced by Elodie Thomis after 22 minutes.

Despite having to go off with the injury, and admitting that the match felt “bittersweet,” there was little that could have wiped the smile off her face after her side showed their nerve from the spot, after the game had finished 0-0.

“I came here with this vision in mind, but I wasn’t sure how real it would be,” she said. “But as the season went on, I felt more and more happy, challenged and fulfilled, and within that the group has helped me along the way in the transition and adjust(ing) to this different style of play. Right now I’m just happy and we’re celebrating and enjoying the moment, and honestly it’s really overwhelming.”

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Morgan was honest in her assessment of her injury, and with the US due to meet both Sweden and Norway next week, the Orlando Pride forward was due to meet Head Coach Jill Ellis Friday to discuss her situation.

“My injury was unfortunate because I felt 100 per cent ready. I was 100 per cent in training from Monday so it was really bad luck for me individually – I don’t even know how bad it is because I’m able to walk and am able to do more than I could two weeks ago.

“I definitely need to speak with Jill,” she continued. “I’m not sure if I’ll be going (to Scandinavia) because I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make a recovery within less than a week, especially with re-injuring the hamstring, I’m sure they’ll want to take it a little slower this time – so I might mind find myself in Orlando pretty soon.

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“Either way I’ll get back on the road to recovery and start back with the Orlando Pride, which I am really excited about.”

Morgan leaves Lyon having won every competition that she has played – the French Division 1 (League), The Coupe de France (French Cup) and of course the UEFA Women’s Champions League.