Mewis and Walsh: UWCL winners raising the bar | OneFootball

Keira Walsh and Sam Mewis say Champions League winners Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood are driving the standards in City’s bid for European success.

Both Bronze and Greenwood, who joined the Club in September, lifted the trophy with seven-time winners Lyon last season – Lucy for the third time in a row.

While City reached the semi-finals in our first two years in the competition, our most recent attempts to challenge have proven unsuccessful as we were eliminated in the early stages at the hands of Atletico Madrid.

Having tasted Champions League glory, defensive duo Bronze and Greenwood returned home to make history by helping an English side to achieve the ultimate prize in Club competition.

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Although they have only donned sky blue for a matter of months, City hero Walsh and World Cup winner Mewis have been impressed by their impacts.

United States star Mewis may have lifted the world’s biggest prize but the midfield maestro says she has learned a lot from her defensive counterparts.

“In their daily actions, Alex and Lucy show what it takes to win,” she reflected.

“They are such hard workers and they bring their best every day.

“Even if they make a mistake, which they rarely do, they’re always the ones fighting to get the ball back right away – and they’re always encouraging others.

WATCH: Welcome back to Manchester: Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood

“They’re both really smart players and it’s been really fun to play with them.

“I feel like I can pick up little tips from them with the way they approach the game.

“One of the reasons I came to City was to help the team do well in the Champions League and their experience will definitely help us when it’s our turn to play in the competition.”

Walsh, who scored her first City goal in the Champions League back in November 2016, played alongside Bronze as Nick Cushing’s side reached successive semi-finals – only to be defeated on both occasions by eventual competition winners Lyon.

Naturally, she has been delighted to have her England teammate back at the Club and hopes the 2019 UEFA Women's Player of the Year's drive, determination and winning mentality can guide the FA Cup winners to the Final – at least.

“Lucy has been a massive influence,” Walsh stated. “She’s won the Champions League three times so she knows what it takes to win.

“When you watch her in and around training, she’s trying to drive the standards and make a difference.

“Even when she goes to speak to the manager or the coaches, she’s trying to push the squad to go one better and improve.

“In terms of the players we’ve brought in, we’re definitely in a better place than we have been previously.

“In the past, the same players have played in the league, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Continental Cup and that does take its toll.

“Now, we have Champions League winners and World Cup winners and young English talent in Chloe Kelly, who has started the season really well.

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“Sam and Rose may not have played in the Champions League but the World Cup is an even bigger stage.

“Adding that calibre of players is massive for us and it’s great experience for us all to learn from.

“Over the last few seasons, we’ve had to watch the latter stages of the Champions League at home on TV. That makes us even more motivated this year to go one further.

“Hopefully, we’ll maintain a good run in the Champions League and get all the way to the Final.”