Akraz, former Arsenal Women's Director, hopes that Gunners mimic his team when they face Barcelona in the final of the women's Champions League final this week
Vic Akraz is full of pride when he sees thousands of fans flowing to Arsenal WSL games in the Emirates. It is a long way from his first responsible days when his players have to pay on Sunday league submarines just to employ the stadiums.
Akraz hopes that the current Arsenal generation mimics his team when he faces Barcelona in the Lisbon Champions League final this week. Arsenal was the first British side and so far to oppress Europe.
But there is a unique part of history of this success – when his team won an arsenal with an unprecedented four -way return in 2007 – which he believes will not be beaten. “I don't think anyone will repeat what we did by winning the four. I am proud of him,” Akraz said.
“The game has grown. It gives me a lot of pride when I go to games in the Emirates now and see thousands of people walking to the field.
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“Barcelona is the best team, in my view. To a large extent. They dismantled Chelsea in the semi -finals. They are going around the field, and they are well trained. But you never know – it's one time game and anything possible.”
Akraz miracles during his 22 -year -old work as Arsenal manager while he was collecting his role in the Kit Man for the first team for men. Not only did Arsenal women take the top, but also put the game of the entire women on the map. It started from modest beginnings – players pay their own submarines – and today's generation reaps the benefits.
“The girls paid to play, we had to pay the price of the stadiums, and I had a little money from the club at that point. It changed in the nineties.” “Arsene Wenger was great, the players were supportive and the Gaffer team was great,” said Akraz, who is 79 years old in August.
“Daver David Dein was very supportive, and it's great to see what happened to the game and it is very good to hear some appreciation along the way. The club invited me to Lisbon and it is a nice touch.”
Akeers won the quantity in 2007, but their most difficult task was the Swedish Umea team in a final leg. They won away from home 1-0 thanks to Alex Scott's goal, grabbed them at home and raised the cup.
And they did everything without Kelly Smith, which Akraz considered the best player in the world at the time. Smith was expelled after kicking from Pillar to publication in the semi -finals with Brundby and finally picked up and sent.
But Akeers's secret of success was the choice of playing in Borehamwood instead of the Emirates and also working on a major tactical plan to deal with Smith.
Akes said: “I gave the players the option because we were told that we could play in the Emirates. I left them for them to make a decision.
“It is close to the supporters in Borehamwood, it is far from the Emirates and I do not think we would have included it at the time, although the game is now changing. It gave us a better atmosphere, the crowd was not at the head of the players, and the opposition did not like us.
“You know that you should work hard, and everyone should contain them, and I knew that it would be difficult to get the goals. We had to get numbers behind the ball, then Alex Scott got the sudden ball and we were screaming:” exchange of shooting! “
“That's what I did, it flew in the upper corner and suddenly, we have overcome the best team in the world, and we go back with 1-0. We had a midfield in Katie Chapman and Jin Lodlo, and all the blade was covered in grass, this is where we won in the game with our endurance goalkeeper.
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