Germany head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg says that she called Aston Villa’s Ramona Petzelberger into her squad for the Arnold Clark Cup due to the player’s experience in the game.
Petzelberger is still awaiting her first senior cap for Germany at the age of 29. She did not make the initial selection for Germany’s Arnold Clark Cup squad but she was drafted in yesterday with six players having been ruled out by illness or COVID-19.
When speaking in the pre-match press conference ahead of her side’s opening Arnold Clark Cup fixture against Spain in Middlesbrough, Voss-Tecklenburg provided details on Petzelberger’s call-up.
“I’ve known her for quite a long time, since she was a teenager,” Voss-Tecklenburg told FAWSL Full-Time. “We just asked ourselves who could help in this special situation and we thought that Ramona would be a great addition alongside the young players who have been called up. She is a 29-year-old women who has seen a lot, done a lot.
“We contacted her and as it turned out, she was in Germany at the time on a planned visit. She had nothing with her in terms of kit but that problem was soon solved, she joined us for the first time at training on Tuesday and we are quite pleased to have her in the squad.”
With Germany missing some top names for the Arnold Clark Cup, there are opportunities for less experienced members of the squad including Petzelberger to show what they can do. Voss-Tecklenburg went on to say that those players coming in can put pressure on their teammates for places in future selections.
She said “The last few days have been quite energy-sapping. Throughout Saturday, Sunday and Monday, we were losing players almost by the minute. We knew beforehand that it was going to be difficult thanks to injuries and COVID-19. It is unfortunate but there is nothing we can do about it.
“Every player who is here is able and willing to put pressure on the established side. I think it is a huge opportunity for each and every one of them to prove themselves after being pushed into the limelight.”
Germany begin their Arnold Clark Cup campaign against Spain at The Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough at 2.30pm tomorrow afternoon.
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