Daphne van Domselaar hardly realizes that she has won the Champions League in her first season with Arsenal. The Orange goalkeeper was just fit in time for the final, in which she excelled. “It was really bizarre.”
Van Domselaar now knows how big women’s football is in England. Yet the Arsenal and Orange goalkeeper could hardly believe her eyes on Monday morning when she arrived at the Emirates Stadium. “Around 9:00 AM there were already a thousand people, while the ceremony was only three hours later,” Van Domselaar tells NU.nl, among others, a day later.
By the time the ceremony began, the square, which can accommodate ten thousand fans, was full to put the brand new Champions League winners in the spotlight. “I think it’s alive in London,” says Van Domselaar, with an ironic smile. “It was really bizarre. There were also many fans in Lisbon itself, which was also special.”
Forty hours before the ceremony, the Portuguese capital was the scene of the Champions League final between Arsenal and FC Barcelona. Van Domselaar had an important part in the 1-0 victory with a few good saves. But it was already a victory for her that she could play at all.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper was injured on her ankle in early April in the Nations League match against Austria. At that time, she “totally didn’t” realize that her season might be over. That realization only came a few days later, after which a race against the clock began.
‘I just get tears in my eyes’
Van Domselaar’s days have been repetitive in recent weeks: from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM she went to the gym to rehabilitate. “I was often alone and they were long days. It was hard work. I did everything that could have an impact on the rehabilitation.”
The recovery focused not only on the physical aspect, but also on the cognitive aspect. “Do you know those lights? I did exercises with reaction lights, which Formula 1 drivers also use. That way I stayed alert. As soon as I stepped onto the field, I would feel sharp and make rapid progress.”
That worked. Van Domselaar played her first match in a month against FC Barcelona. The victory against Barça was the “icing on the cake” for her.
“The first thing I did after the match was run to my physio and goalkeeper trainer to hug them. Because it…” Her voice breaks. “I just get tears in my eyes. Because we did this together. That was the first thing I thought of. That is very special.”
Van Domselaar world top? ‘Nice compliment’
Van Domselaar now belongs to the European top, while she was still playing for FC Twente two years ago. At the time, she and 97-time international Shanice van de Sanden were still present as spectators at the Champions League final in Eindhoven between Barcelona and Wolfsburg.
“I got goosebumps and told Sjaan (Van de Sanden, ed.) that I wanted to experience that someday. I never expected it to happen so quickly.”
A few weeks later, Van Domselaar made the switch to Aston Villa and is now undisputed at the English top club Arsenal. She is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. “I don’t really think about it myself, but it’s nice that I get those compliments.”
Van Domselaar is on cloud nine, but also carefully focuses on the upcoming Nations League matches of the Dutch national team against Germany (Friday) and Scotland (Tuesday). It is the last international week before the European Championship next summer in Switzerland. Will Van Domselaar’s season get even more shine there?
“We have a very good team. If we have our best day, we can win against anyone. We are mentally ready for it now, that will only get better. I hope everything will come together then,” says Van Domselaar. After another European title, she can prepare for a new ceremony, but then with an Orange Sea of fans in the Netherlands.