Canada's Vanessa Gilles ready to hunt for soccer trophies with new club Bayern Munich
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While winning and having fun can often go hand in hand, they are not always synonymous. Just ask Vanessa Gilles, fresh off a successful soccer season filled with pressure and high expectations playing for a French league powerhouse.
Sure, Lyon went unbeaten in 24 league and playoff matches and the Canadian international played all 90 minutes of a 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain for her third straight Women's Champions League title, but there were trying times.
"Winning a trophy is probably the most fun you'll ever have in a career, so I don't take that for granted," the defender told CBC Sports' Andi Petrillo from Winnipeg, where she is preparing for Saturday's international friendly against Haiti with the Canadian national women's team.
"Football-wise, it was very hard, confidence-wise, getting [in a] rhythm and feeling good on the pitch. When the expectation is excellence, it's very hard to live up to."
It was an eye-opener, added the 29-year-old Ottawa native, who often needed to remind herself to enjoy the game.
"When you have the pressure and expectations [placed on you] to be at your best, we're just human," she said, "whether you're Christine Sinclair [the world's top goal scorer among both women and men] or a 12-year-old. It was a huge reminder for me this year."
Next season, the pressure and expectations will follow Gilles to Germany, where she will play for FC Bayern Women, which was knocked out of the Champions League by Lyon in the quarterfinals. The team also cruised to a third consecutive Bundesliga title after finishing the season with a 19-1-2 record.
Gilles, a centre back who was born in Chateauguay, Que., was sold to Bayern Munich after three seasons with Lyon while on loan from Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League. She will join her new team July 1 on a contract that runs through June 30, 2028.
"If I followed my heart, I would have stayed at Lyon," said Gilles. "My best friends are there … I love the country, I love the club, the fans are great.
"But how Bayern made me feel appreciated [during negotiations] made a huge difference."
WATCH | Gilles excited to join Bayern, a team 'striving to be better':
Vanessa Gilles excited for Bayern move, pays tribute to Desiree Scott
8 minutes ago
Duration 8:57
A return to North America was not an option, Gilles stressed, given the current political climate in the United States, where the country is more politically divided than it has been for years. But she didn't rule out playing in the U.S. or Canada once her contract expires.
Gilles called Bayern Munich a "team with incredible coaches" that enjoys being together, loves winning and plays collectively. Incoming head coach Jose Barcala was an assistant with Girondins Bordeaux, Gilles's first team in France after leaving Cypriot club Apollon Limassol.
"I don't think I've ever enjoyed football as much or felt as confident on the ball as I have whenever I've played under [Barcala], learned from him and [participated in] his [daily training] sessions, so that's something I'm excited to get back to." Gilles said of the 43-year-old Spaniard.
"I want to be part of a team striving to be better, and to lift trophies."
WATCH | Gilles leads Canada over Mexico at Pinatar Cup in February:
Vanessa Gilles scores game-winner as Canada blanks Mexico at Pinatar Cup
3 months ago
Duration 1:16
First, she'll cherish teammate and veteran midfielder Desiree Scott's final appearance in Canadian colours on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET at Winnipeg's Princess Auto Stadium.
It will mark cap No. 188 for Scott, who made her Canadian senior debut in 2010. Known as "The Destroyer" for her ability to break up opposing attacks, the 37-year-old ended a brief retirement to play this season for Ottawa Rapid FC of the Northern Super League.
Scott competed in three World Cups (Germany 2011, Canada 2015, and France 2019) and three Olympic Games, winning bronze medals in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016 and gold in Tokyo in 2021.
"The rock in the middle [of the pitch] that dictates tempo and denies everything," Gilles said of Scott.
"When you play at the highest level, having leaders that make you feel seen and heard, and make you feel appreciated and valued, there's not that many in the world that have that skill. … and the ability to be empathetic and treat everybody like they mean a lot from Day 1."
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