This week-end took place the TILC in Toulouse, a tournament that brought together the biggest European clubs: OL, MHSC, Liverpool and Manchester. On the occasion of this friendly competition, we exchanged with Shanice van de Sanden. The Dutchman who won Euro 2017 with her country this summer, and who has just signed up with Olympique Lyonnais on Tuesday (August 29th). A news that surprised more than one, but the neo-Lyon had made some assumptions in this direction in our interview.



Football Hearts - I would just like to talk about the Euro again if it's possible? I saw most of your games and you were a real fury on the right side of your team. It felt like you were taking the "fear" of your entire team, and turning it into "strength" and that's what drove your team to victory. Was it your role?
Shanice van de Sanden - Yes of course we can talk about the Euro.
(Amazed) Yeah, maybe it's good to hear you say that. I do not know, but I hear from many people, it's nice to know (smile). I do not really know, but maybe.


Football Hearts - Did taking the risk of coming to Liverpool that allowed you to sharpen your game and make a mark for the selection?
S.S. - Before I played in the Netherlands, but of course, I'm happy to have come to Liverpool. It's a great league to play [the FA WSL in England], there are some great teams to become a better player. I know I am improving every workout, every game because I play against talented girls. Of course, I'm better today, so I'm really happy to play for Liverpool and I think that makes me even stronger, so I was able to compete in the Euro [as a titular]. So yeah, of course, it helped me a lot.


Football Hearts - What has changed compared to your previous clubs?
S.S. - Yeah, [this is the level that is] ever higher, there are more talented players. We have a lot of talented players in Holland, but not enough. That's why I came to England, because the league is better. Let's hope that with the victory at the Euro now, it's going to be better and better in Holland. We will see what happens. Hopefully it will be in the same direction as England.


Hearts of Football - Scott Rogers said about you: "Shanice is a hard-working striker who will add goals to the team," does that characterize you well?
S.S. - Yeah, I think so. That's how I am. I will never change. It's nice to hear again (smile), but that's how I am.


Soccer Hearts - Where do you get your way from playing?
S.S. - Yes it is as I said. That's how I am. I really like working for the team. The race is the thing I'm good at. I run a lot, I give good sequences, good centers [on my right side] and I help my team to open the scoring. That's what I want to do. I hope I can give more centers for my team to score.


Soccer Hearts - You are a strong player, but I see you are funny too. Do you have a double personality?
S.S. - (smile) I am a really open person, really sociable. In the field, of course, I am serious, I work hard. I am a strong player, but I want to be a better player.


Soccer Hearts - You play for nine years now with the national team, how do you see the progress of your game and women's football? What have you improved in the way you play?
S.S. - Yeah, I started when I was 16 with the national team (in 2009). I have not been there for five years before the World Cup (between 2010 and 2015). The coach said I was not good enough, so I improved. I ask questions of other trainers, coaches. They help me a lot. Now, here I am, where I stand now. This is not where I want to be, I want to be at a higher level. I want to learn a lot from all the players. I like if people say I'm doing something wrong because it helps me a lot to become a better player. Yes, lots of things have happened during my nine years, we are now the champions and you have to know that the level is higher, we are improving [in the Netherlands]. So I'm really proud of all the girls on the national team. All the girls from Liverpool too, they helped me a lot.

I really progressed a lot. Before I ran a lot, but my centers were not famous. I was too "crazy" in my head. Now I am more relaxed, I have more perspective. I think that's what I improved.


Football Hearts - At the Euro you put your team on track against Norway (1-0 win, with goal in the 66th minute). Did this positive input result give you extra motivation? S.S. - Of course, it gave me extra motivation. This will always be the case, it will always be my motivation [to give the best for my team] .Foot Feet - This is a tough team. Everyone is waiting for you to be a tournament player (it's Lieke Martens, her teammate who inherited it), or even to be part of the UEFA team, and to our surprise you were there. not. Is this frustrating for you? - No, it's really not frustrating for me. This year, for me, this is the first time I play in the starting lineup [each time]. I'm really proud to be among the top ten players in Euro 2017. There are many good players in this world, Maroszan, Lieke Martens, Pernille Harder. They are really good players, so I'm really against being among the top ten for UEFA's best player of the year. For me it was a big surprise, I'm really satisfied. Now, I must continue to progress and I hope that in the future, I will be one of the best. Footballers - Today with hindsight what will you retain from this Euro? What is it like to win this title? The fervor is still present? S.S. - Yeah, of course, the final [against Denmark, gleaned 4-2]. It was a great moment and I think the match was really great to play to hear all the fans. It was a match that was good for women's football. When you win it, when you hear the referee whistles the end. There are a lot of emotions in your head. You worked very hard for Gold [around the neck]. Of course, I will never forget this moment. That means a lot. I started when I was 12 years old. I started when I was a little too old. I worked very hard, with everything that interests me, my parents, my brother, my sisters and all the people who help me. It makes you a bit emotional, too, if you win a title like this, that you are the best in Europe. I still can not believe it. These are things you will never forget.Foot Feelers - What will be your goals this season? Is the main objective the Champions League? S.S. - I want to score more goals than last season, I want to give a lot of passes as well. I hope we can play for the title ... I hope we will maintain this level and play for the title and play the Champions League - because that's what I want.It's a goal for me to play the Champions League.

I would just like to talk about the Euro if it's possible. I saw most of your matches and you were a real fury on the right side of your team. It felt like you were taking the fear of your whole team and turning it into a "force" and that was what led your team to victory. Was that your role?
1. Yeah maybe, it's nice to hear it from you. I don't know but I hear it from loads of people, it's nice to know. I don't really know but maybe.

 

Did the fact that you took this risk to come to Liverpool enabled you to sharpen your game and pass a landing for selection?
2. Before I play in the Netherlands, but of course I'm happy to play for Liverpool. It's a great league to play in, there are great teams so you will be a better player. I know I'm getting better every single training session, every single game because I play against good talent girls. Of course I'm better for now, so I'm really happy to play for Liverpool and I think that makes me better, that why I play in the Euros as well. Yeah, of course, yeah it helps me a lot

 

What has changed from your previous clubs?
3. Yeah, always it's higher, there are more talent players. We have a lot of talent players in Holland but not enough. That's why I came to England because the league is much more better. Hopefully with winning the Euros now, it's getting better in Holland as well so we will see what happens. Hopefully it will be in the same as it is England.

 

Scott Rogers said about you: "Shanice is a hard-working striker who will add goals to the team," does that characterize you well?
4. Yeah, I think so. That's how I am. I will never change. It's nice to hear again but that's how I am.

 

Where do you keep your way of playing?
5. The same what I said. That's how I am. I like to work hard for the team. Running is the thing where I'm good in. I run a lot, give some good crosses and my team-mates cab score. That's what I want to do. Hopefully I can give more crosses that my team will score.

 

You're strong player but how I see you know you're funny. We have a double personnality ?
6. I'm a really open person, really social. On the pitch of course I'm serious, I work hard. I'm a strong player but I want to be a better player.

 

You play with Alex Greenwood at Liverpool, so what did you think about her ?
14. Yeah, of course, she is a really good player and she has played in a World Cup as well. That's what I told you but behind me there is really good quality as well. All the girls are really good in our team. Of course, Lyon is another level, you know what I mean, they are the best of the world, everyone knows that. It's good for us to play against them so we know where we are and will help us a lot for next season. I'm happy to play against them.

 

You have played for nine years with the national team, how do you see the progression of your game and women's football? What have you improved in the way you play?
7. Yeah, I've played from when I was 16 years old, I came in the National Team. I have not been there for five years before the World Cup. The coach said I was not good enough so I make myself better. I ask questions to other trainers, coaches. They help me a lot. Now I am here, where I stand now. This is not where I want to be, I want to be at a higher level. I want to learn a lot from every single player. I like if people say if I do something wrong because that helps me a lot to make myself a better player. Yeah, loads happened in nine years, we are now the champions so you know the level is higher, we are getting better. So I'm really proud of all the girls in the National Team. All the girls from Liverpool as well, they help me a lot.

8. I've improved a lot. Before I run a lot but my crosses were not right. I was too crazy in my head. Now I'm more relaxed, I have more rest. I think what's the thing I've improved

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At the Euro you put your team on the right track against Norway. Did this positive entry result give you additional motivation?
9. Of course, it's given me extra motivation. It will always be, it will always be my motivation.

 

Everyone you expect for the prize of tournament player, or even to be in the UEFA type team and to our surprise you were not there. Is that frustrating for you?

10. No, it's really not frustrating for me. This year, for me is the first time that I play in the first eleven. I'm really proud to be in the first eleven players. There are loads of good players in this world, Maroszan, Lieke Martens, Pernille Harder. They are really good players so I'm really proud to be in the top ten for the UEFA Best Player of the Year. That for me that was a big surprise, I'm really happy with that. Now I need to keep progressing and hopefully in the future I will be one of the best players in the world.

 

Today with the hindsight you will retain of this Euro? What does it mean to win this title? 

11. Yeah, of course, the final. That was a big thing and I think the game was really good to play in to watch for all the supporters. It was a game that was good for women's soccer. When you win it, when you hear the ref it's full time. everything goes through your head. You have worked so really hard for the gold. Of course, I will never forget that moment.

12. It means a lot. I started when I was 12 years old. I started when I was a little bit too old. I worked really hard, with everything around me, my parents, my brother, my sisters and all the people that helps me. It makes you a little bit emotional as well if you win a title like this, that you are the best from Europe. I still can't believe. They are things that you will never forget.

 

 

What will be your goals this season? Is playing the Champions League still the ultimate goal?

13. I want to score more goals than last season, I want to give loads of assists. Hopefully we can play for the title... Hopefully we will keep up that level and play for the title and play Champions League - because that's what I want.

14. It's a goal for me to play in the Champions League.

Dounia MESLI