After a season reaching the semi-finals in both the Champions League and the European Commission and finishing second in the league, Amanda Ellistit, 29, is aiming high in 2023.
But first, she should have some fun at being named Sweden’s Best Defender for the first time.
– I am very happy and proud. The PSG defender says moving to Paris meant a lot to me.
In fierce competition with fellow national teammates Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea) and Natalie Bjorn (Everton), the 29-year-old from Sölvesborg was first awarded the Full-Back of the Year award in football.
– It means a lot. It was a good year and it will serve as a receipt that you did something well. I feel happy and proud.
What do you think made this year go so well?
– There were many good and high-quality matches in both the club team, the Champions League and the national team. I’ve also gained a lot of faith in both the club and the national team, which I think means I’ve developed as a player.
In a club team environment, you don’t just meet some of the world’s fastest and most skilled players on an individual level only in matches. They are there in training to test the Swedish centre-back, day in and day out.
– When I meet players like Kadi (Diani), Mari (Katoto), Leke (Martins) and Ramona (Bachmann) in training every day, it’s a good environment to be in. You need to work a lot on footwork and try to think a step ahead and try to read the game a little earlier.
From the outside, Ligue 1 is a battle between two giants: Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais, but Ailstedt feels the entire league has gotten a real boost in the year or so.
– Can’t get 80 percent to get points anymore. You have to give 100 per cent to get three points and there I see huge progress in just one year. The league itself, things happen, it’s not 100 percent professional yet, but that’s what they’re aiming for.
For Ilestedt and PSG, the fight against Lyon is the big thing. It was the rivals who won the league last year and it was the rivals who defeated PSG in the Champions League semi-finals.
With 11 matches played, PSG now lead the table, by a paltry point.
When the 29-year-old was asked what was the highlight of last season, the answer comes at lightning speed.
– French Cup. Winning it is definitely one of the highlights. The Champions League match we also reached in the semi-finals. Of course we wanted that last place, but we did very well, she says and continues:
– For my part, this summer’s EC experience was great. Not only on the field but also in the stands. To have a lot of Swedish fans in the place. It was a memory for life. It was fantastic and it’s really a shame we couldn’t make it happen, but it’s still one of my best memories of my football career.
As the players made their way to the arenas, I sent them clips of all the fans who had gathered, ready to go to the games. Ahead of the final group stage match against Portugal in Leigh, the bus also managed to mark its arrival with the fans marching in, resulting in fans flocking around the bus.
It felt like we were playing at home. It was really cool to be a part of. It also means a lot to us players that we have the support of the fans and it’s great that there is so much interest.
However the European Championships came to a heavy end with a huge loss to future European champions England.
– Obviously, he still felt the weight, but we lost to a really good team, which then won the entire tournament. Hat up.
Next summer, Sweden will have another chance to fight for the title. There is a toilet in New Zealand and Australia waiting.
At home, there are also a lot of titles to strive for and this is exactly what Ilestedt dreams about.
The dream scenario is to win every title you can. It was the year of the century for me, but you also know there are a lot of good teams at club and national level. It’s not just a skill, but you have to have some fluency with you as well. She says and concludes that it is important to have a good mix of both:
– But obviously winning trophies, that’s what you’re best at and what you work for every day as a footballer.