LYON, France - Not only did OL Lyonnes miss the chance of a record-extending ninth Women's Champions League title, the crushing 4-0 loss to Barcelona in last season's final underlined its rival's ongoing status as the best side in the game.
When goal-scoring midfielder Caroline Weir joined Lyon from Real Madrid in the offseason, she understood how much that loss hurt.
"Everyone that was here last season knows what it took to get there. Obviously the disappointment of that final, I know the players felt that," Weir told The Associated Press in an interview at the club's training ground on Monday.
"I'm a new player, I'm here to learn from the players who have that experience. Also the coach [Jonatan Giráldez] has been there and done it."
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The Women's Champions League begins Tuesday and sees 18 teams competing over six match days in the league phase, with the top four advancing to the quarterfinals and the clubs finishing between fifth and 12th entering knockout-phase playoffs.
After shrugging off a minor muscle injury, Weir could make her Lyon debut at Swiss club Servette on Wednesday.
"It starts now," the 31-year-old Weir said. "It's exciting that the games are coming a little bit quicker."
