Leaving across the Atlantic in mid-June, Eugénie Le Sommer returned to France ten days ago. After five months with OL Reign, the American franchise of Olympique Lyonnais, the French international striker returns enriched by her American experience. For franceinfo: sport, it evokes this human and sporting adventure.
You arrived in mid-June at OL Reign, based in Seattle (Washington State). What conclusions do you draw from this experience?
Eugenie Le Sommer: A unique and enriching experience on all points, whether in sport or in human terms. I learned a lot of things. Every day, I discovered something new, about culture, football, the city. I had been on vacation in the United States before, but living there and joining a team is an even more interesting experience.
What did you like the most?
The enthusiasm of the public and the structure of the League. A set of things that make lthe professional championship is a cut above. It’s another dimension, the Americans are much more ahead than us.
With England, it is the second professional championship in the world. And for me, it was the land of women’s football. Here, it is the number one sport for little girls. It is the country Olympic champion and world champion.
“The Americans won it all. That was also why I wanted to go, to find out all about it.”
Eugenie Le Sommerto franceinfo: sport
And conversely, what did you dislike?
Apart from not having won the championship, but it’s more competition, the hardest part was being away from my family, with a lot of jet lag. I also liked traveling less. When you play outside, you fly easily. When we were in Orlando, we flew for 7 hours. Not to mention the humid and hot climate, which we do not know in Europe.
These are things you have to adapt quickly because you have to perform well on the pitch. I had to take this parameter into account, which was new.
Was the adaptation difficult?
No, I was very well received by the team. The girls were super happy with my coming, I felt it and in this context, it’s easier to fit in. What was difficult at first was that the results weren’t good. We were 9th out of 10. The context was a bit difficult, especially since I was coming out of a season with Lyon where we had a change of coach, and we had not had a good season.
So I wanted to arrive in a more serene environment, but in the end, that was not the case, since we also experienced a change of coach. In this context, we had to constantly draw on our resources. But I took it as an experience to live, I was focused on my game above all, and what I could bring to the team.
Is the link between supporters and players different from the one you know in France?
Not really. On the other hand, the craze in the stadiums is quite different. There is the fanfare, people all have a team jersey or cap, and this for all sports. The average influence is also higher than in France and we played in beautiful stadiums.
And the differences in the game?
The game is much more direct and physical. The matches are more intense. It’s a game where you go quickly from one goal to another, you attack, you defend, there is no possession game like we do can have in Europe, and as we have a lot in Lyon. I had to adapt, and I feel like I added something different to my palette.
Did you learn things that you could apply in France?
What I found really great is that the championship is professional. There, the players devote themselves to that, and necessarily the level follows. I also liked the solidarity between the players when there was the case of the sexual harassment of a coach. Club or nationality was not important. This moment was strong and I think I had never seen it before in a sport in France.
Moreover, American players, like all athletes across the Atlantic, are very committed to social issues. Would you like to see such a commitment in France?
I knew the players were involved but I really experienced it from the inside. The championship has been professional for much longer than with us, so they have a reputation that allows them to take a stand and be listened to. They realized that they could make things happen, in the right way.
As they are more ahead of professionalization, they are less focused on promoting their championship. In France, we could be inspired by it, but we are still at the very beginning. We are already trying to be accepted as a player before pleading causes.
At OL Reign, you played alongside Megan Rapinoe. What did you feel ?
I was super happy, I knew that by signing in this club, I was going to be able to play with her. She was someone I really appreciated in Lyon, for me she’s one of the best players in the world, and I love playing with the best. It was an honor too.
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In the United States, he is an icon and a model throughout the country. Like others, she is very committed and it is a player that you see on television on commercials when you watch any program. It took on an extraordinary dimension. Anyway, I loved playing alongside him.
What are your next challenges?
At the moment, I don’t necessarily have one. Today, I am really focused on my return to OL to have a good end of the season. I resume collective training on January 2. For the rest, I am at the end of the contract in 2023, so I still have time to think about it.
“For now, I want to win titles with OL.”
Eugenie Le Sommerto franceinfo: sport
Is that of finding the blue jersey still in the back of your mind?
Yes of course, I have the Euro as my goal at the end of the season. I have all the goals before with OL but the France team, of course I think about it, and obviously I want to participate in the Euro so it’s up to me to be efficient with my club, to to find her.
An anecdote from your stay in the United States to end?
The girls on the team kept me roomed on my French accent (to laugh). They laughed all the time when I spoke. I told them: “But am I speaking badly?” They answered me: “No, you speak too well, but it’s your accent.” (to laugh)