Trophy taste makes Catley hungrier for Matildas success

West Australian

2 days ago

Steph Catley has savoured the "taste of trophies" with her Champions League triumph and it's making her hungry to feast on silverware with the Matildas.
Arsenal trio Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are still living the dream after beating Barcelona 1-0 last week to claim the Women's Champions League title.
Still on a high from the biggest moment of her career, Catley is daring to dream of Asian Cup glory with Australia next March after semi-finals berths in the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Women's World Cup.
"It just gives you a little taste of what's possible," she said.
"Being at a club like Arsenal, I always believed we were capable of doing it, but actually doing it's a whole other thing, and especially when you're coming up against a team like Barcelona, sometimes it feels quite far away.
"But to actually do it, just makes me think in my career and think about the things that I really want to achieve, and winning silverware with the Matildas has always been top of my list.
"So, yeah, definitely makes me hungry. I've got the taste of trophies. And that would mean a lot to me if we were able to do that.
"So obviously it's coming up now, it's coming very close, but I think it's good for at least the three of us to have a taste of that and to be able to lead that success and that hunt for success for our team. Yeah, that'd be very nice."
Catley, Foord and Cooney-Cross have relished the chance to sink in their momentous achievement back on home soil since arriving in Matildas camp on Wednesday night.
"It's been a big few days, biggest of my life, my career, I would say," Catley, 31, said.
"Something I've dreamed of my entire career, it's the pinnacle of football and being able to do it alongside my two Aussies, and just being part of Arsenal and being that club in England to do it again, it's very, very special.
"Then to come back here and celebrate with the Tillies and all the girls has been really lovely."
Arsenal players have partied hard and relished the fan reaction, including celebrating in front of thousands of people at their parade.
"I don't think I've been surprised in the sense that it's the biggest prize in football, maybe other than a World Cup, which is pretty much on par," she said.
"But I think some of it still takes your breath away.
"Like the parade was so special. I expected a big crowd, because we obviously have an amazing supporter base, but I didn't expect it to be like that - they were just so loud and so into it, singing songs.
"Just one of the best memories that I think I'll have for the rest of my life.
"It's a massive high. I don't know that we've necessarily come down - like I think it'll stay with us for a long time,"
Interim coach Tom Sermanni was unwilling to risk the trio in Friday night's 2-0 win over Argentina in Melbourne, but they are set to start in the rematch on Monday night in Canberra.
"They should be fit and ready to go and I anticipate them starting on Monday," he said, before jokingly adding: "They've had their holiday. They've had a week."
That came as news to Catley.
"Okay, he hasn't told me that?" she laughed.
"I mean, I feel good. Obviously we have had a big couple of days, and it's obviously a long way to travel, and we only travelled a few days ago.
"But yeah, I'll be ready, and the girls will be ready. It's the end of the season, so it's not like we're unfit or not ready to play. We're definitely ready to play.
"So it'd be nice to get back on the field again. I'm not a very good sub. I don't like sitting on the bench. I get a bit antsy, so I'm happy to play."