Scorer of the goal that defined the 1-0 victory over Gotham FC, from the United States, Gabi Zanotti celebrated Corinthians’ “very intelligent game” at the Gtech Community Stadium, in London, on the English afternoon of Wednesday (28). The black and white team was pressured for much of the duel, but advanced to the final of the first FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
“We collectively did an extraordinary job, with a solid defense and everyone donating, playing like Corinthians, with blood in our eyes, closing every space. Very happy. Football is played on the field. It’s impossible to win off the field, talking a lot. We saw a lot of things out there”, stated the attacker.
She did not dwell on the disregard she observed from the athletes on the North American team and preferred to talk about the next goal. Corinthians will return to the field on Sunday (1st) to compete for the title of the competition, which brings together the winners from each continent. The decision is scheduled for the Emirates Stadium, also in London, home of Arsenal, the likely opponent.
“We waited a long time for this moment, and today I was blessed, enlightened, the ball fell to me, but I want to highlight the group, the collective work that we did. Now it’s time to celebrate, we only have a short time. Our goal doesn’t end here. This group has a very strong mentality and is thinking ahead, thinking about the final”, said Zanotti.
Coach Lucas Piccinato was yet another to praise the “well-executed game plan”. In the same vein as the top scorer, she celebrated Corinthians qualifying for “a world championship final” and said that “the group wants more”. To do this, they will once again count on the help of the black and white fans present in London.
“The Corinthian fans are very different. I arrived at the stadium an hour and forty before, I went out to walk around and breathe a little, think about the game model, and I started to hear the fans singing the anthem an hour and forty before. I told them: ‘It’s going to be a stage similar to Itaquera'”, he reported.
The final will be in a bigger stadium than the Brentford stadium, in west London. And, probably, against the owners of the house. “Regardless of what the international media says, for our fans we will always be favorites. They did a lot for us to be here, to get where we are. And we will work hard, because we want more”, said Piccinato.
