Caroline Weir’s move to reigning French champions Lyon is an example to all Scottish players, according to national team manager Melissa Andreatta.
The midfielder has brought down the curtain on her time at Real Madrid as she looks to a new chapter – one that she hopes will open the door to the biggest domestic prize of all.
Lyon have won the Champions League a record eight times, albeit that they lost 4-0 to Barcelona in last month’s final.
They most certainly present Weir with the opportunity to play at the most elite level as she leaves Real Madrid on the back of 63 goals in 125 appearances, two Real Player of the Year awards and a Spanish Player of the Year award.
While Madrid lag behind Barca domestically, Lyon, one of the most prestigious teams in the women’s game, are keen to recapture their European crown. “In terms of Caroline and the move, it really models what we want as a national team,” said Andreatta.
“It is about making your best even better, and she is challenging herself by going to a top club in a top league, and what better way to improve yourself by playing against the best in the world every day?
“She is one of many players who have a lot of experience now and who are very ready to embrace the challenge that lies ahead of us. She and Erin [Cuthbert] are super competitive, and it is awesome having them in the team because they are always pushing one another and that competitiveness is always pushing them to be better.
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“She walks the walk, and she models what you have to do to be the best. Everyone in this team is doing that in their own way, but in terms of Caroline, she really is the example of what it takes to reach that level.
“If you dig below the surface, there is a super competitor who is driven by a deep love, a mad love of football, and it is that passion and love that is her driver. She is a conductor within a game. She wants to influence and shape the game both with and without the ball. She has a tremendous work ethic to match it.”
Weir netted seven goals in two games as Scotland rounded off their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign with two emphatic wins over Israel – and a place at the top of their group.
Their League B position means a play-off route to Brazil with Czechia and the winners of Lithuania and Sweden lying in wait in the autumn play-off games. Sweden are formidable opponents, with the Scandinavians never having missed an iteration of the Women’s World Cup.
“It is an opportunity,” said Andreatta. “It is all about possibilities. It has been all or nothing since the start of the year. That is the mindset that we have had all the way through the campaign.
“After the Israel game a few weeks ago, when we were all back at the hotel, there was a lot of positivity and pride in the way we went about our performances and topped the group.
“We took a moment to celebrate that and enjoy it, but the feeling I am already sensing from the players is, 'can these games hurry up already?'
"You can’t doubt their focus, their desire and their willingness to get the job done.”
