Steph Catley keen to add Asian Cup trophy to her Champions League silverware with Arsenal

Matildas captain Steph Catley believes the national team can achieve ‘something special’ at next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Securing silverware with Arsenal has made Matildas captain Steph Catley all the more “hungry” to add to her trophy collection at next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Catley and Arsenal’s other two Matildas, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross, are still on cloud nine after winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Barcelona in last weekend’s final in Lisbon.

“It’s been a big few days, biggest of my life, my career, I would say,” Catley said.

“It’s something I’ve dreamed of my entire career. It’s the pinnacle of football and being able to do it alongside my two Aussies, and just being part of Arsenal and being that club in England to do it again, it’s very, very special.”

Just as special would be the Matildas being able to win a major trophy for the first time since 2010 at next year’s Women’s Asian Cup, which starts in Australia in March.

Arsenal trio (from left) Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross are all smiles in Matildas camp. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“To actually do it (win the Champions League), just makes me think about my career and think about the things that I really want to achieve, and winning silverware with the Matildas has always been top of my list,” Catley said.

“(It) definitely makes me hungry. I’ve got the taste of trophies, and that would mean a lot to me if we were able to (win the Asian Cup).

“It’s coming very close, but I think it’s good for at least the three of us to have a taste of (winning a trophy), and to be able to lead that success and that hunt for success for our (national) team, that’d be very nice.

“Maybe it hasn’t been the most successful few years, but set we still believe we can achieve something special.”

After only arriving in Matildas camp on Wednesday night, Catley, Foord and Cooney-Cross were unused substitutes in Australia’s 2-0 win over Argentina at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

However, it’s likely all three will start when the Matildas again face the Argentines in Canberra on Monday night.

And that suits Catley, who said she could get “antsy” watching from the sidelines.

“It’d be nice to get back on the field again. I’m not a very good sub. I don’t like sitting on the bench,” she said.

“I feel good. We have had a big couple of days, and it’s obviously a long way to travel, and we only travelled a few days ago, but I’ll be ready, and the girls will be ready.

“It’s the end of the season, so it’s not like we’re unfit or not ready to play. We’re definitely ready to play.”

Originally published as Steph Catley keen to add Asian Cup trophy to her Champions League silverware with Arsenal