“Last season during a press conference I said, ‘We are a five-year-old child that goes to a primary school and we are playing against people at university.’”
The words of from the man at the helm of Italian giants Juventus, their women’s team sporting director, Stefano Braghin.
It may seem strange terminology for one of the most recognizable names in world football, but that is how Braghin views, potentially fairly, a side that was only created, as referenced, five years ago.
This week they will take on European champions Lyon in the Champions League and following that a double-header with Arsenal, one of the pioneers of the women’s game, and they want to compete, as they did last season during their first run to the quarterfinals, but it’s here where Braghin expands on his initial point.
“It was a joke, but the current situation is we are very young in the game. There are three things we are really focused on for the future to grow up and compete with these teams.
“The recruitment of young players in Italy overall, because we are struggling with numbers. What I have noticed in Lyon and Arsenal is the average player is stronger than our average player. So forget the Champions League for now because that is a matter of money. If I…
