GLASGOW CITY suffered a bad case of 'les bleus' on Saturday night as their Champions League dream was taken apart piece by piece in Paris.
Having performed second-leg miracles in the previous two rounds to make it into the last eight of the competition, divine intervention in the land of the Sacred Heart was not forthcoming. All they got was broken hearts.
Heading into the tie at the iconic Parc des Princes 2-0 down from last Sunday's opener, a stubborn Glasgow performance was eventually eroded down by Paris St Germain in front of over 11,000 home supporters.
Their first goal coming unfortunately via the leg of City's Suzanne Lappin, a further four followed over an exhausting 90 minutes as the Scots' resistance eventually gave way to fatigue and frustration.
Yet, despite the late blows inflicted by PSG, which took the aggregate score to 7-0, the wounds they caused are already on the way to being healed.
That was the message from Jo Love, who showed little signs of emotional scaring from what could have been an unforgettable night for all the wrong reasons.
"I think this game is going to be one that sticks in the memory," said the midfielder. "Not just for the stage we managed to get to this time round, but when you consider the stadium and to be playing against some of the best players in the world, it's been great for us and me personally.
"It's just fortunate for PSG that they have the players and the resources to take them that extra step up.
"I know that we are just starting our new domestic season but I don't believe this result will have a detrimental impact on it.
"I think we've had this game and have the experience of it under our belt can only push us on for the season. Hopefully we will raise our game as we now know what we have to work towards in the forthcoming campaign.
"That's what we must focus on and try and play at such a level in five months' time where we are in a position to compete."
Attempting to get close to the likes of PSG is all well and good, but Love and the rest of the City camp are fully aware it is a near impossible task.
Given the infrastructure which surrounds the full-time French team which is littered with genuine world class players, there is more chance of Lionel Messi playing for Motherwell than there is of a similar kind of investment - £7.5million - being ploughed into the Scottish champions who juggle work and education commitments with their footballing career.
However, with eight league titles from eight and now a Champions League quarter-final to boast of, City are undeniably on the up. A point Love was keen to accentuate.
"We are building as a club and we just strive to be there with the likes of PSG," she said.
"We would like to think we can bridge the gap but I think they have the resources, and unless someone puts £7.5million into Laura Montgomery's[club manager and co-founder] pocket I think the bridge is still going to be there.
"You can't deny that is a massive factor. They have the time to rest, train and make their moves. We can only do what we can with the time we have. What we have done we have done great."
A large part of that progression is down to City's manager, Eddie Wolecki-Black.
The Dundonian has been the man behind the club's rise as his team have improved year on year.
And while bettering last season's achievements in the forthcoming campaign may be difficult to achieve at least at European level, Love remains buoyant with Wolecki-Black at the helm.
"I think since the day he came through the door there have been league titles won and this year we are going for nine titles in a row," said the 29-year-old.
"That is all credit to him that he's got us as far as he has done. I know Eddie couldn't have done it without the support of the backroom staff that he has around him just now, but he didn't have that when he first started with us.
"Playing on this sort of stage definitely gives you a taste for it. Especially for the younger girls coming through, they have seen what can be and hopefully what will be for Glasgow City in years to come."
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