BARCELONA, 29 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The FC Barcelona player Alexia Putellas stressed that this Wednesday’s match against Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals could be “the beginning of a new era”, so “many girls will dream of be those women” who play at the Camp Nou, something “unimaginable” for the captain because she only “sees men”.
“Tomorrow could be the beginning of a new era. It will inspire many people, who will see that women are playing at the Camp Nou and the fruits will be reaped. In the future, many girls will surely dream of being those women.” “, Explained Putellas in the previous game.
The winner of the 2021 Ballon d’Or acknowledged that she had never thought that this Wednesday’s game could be held on that stage. “I knew I could play football, but I didn’t see it as accessible in these dimensions,” added the Spanish international, who hopes that the match will mark “a before and after” in women’s football because Barça “is the biggest club and has that speaker.
For the forward, the Clasico at the Camp Nou is “the ‘cherry’ on the cake” for all the achievements. “Madrid started two years ago and the word ‘clásico’ indicates that it has been a lifetime and it is not like that. But it is true that at club level there is a lot of competition between Barça and Madrid. Seeing the shirts makes you feel that passion of the men’s Classic”, Putellas sentenced.
Asked about the pressure they are under due to the excellent campaign they are carrying out and their unbeaten record in the First Iberdrola, she affirms that the Barça team is “prepared” to take on the pressure. “We like it, it attracts us and it motivates us. We live to play these types of games and tomorrow we have the opportunity to do so,” she added about the match in European competition.
Barcelona won 3-1 against Real Madrid in the first leg with a brace from Alexia Putellas. Thus, for the Catalan, beyond playing at the Camp Nou, the goal is “to pass the tie”.
GIRÁLDEZ: “WE PLAY A LOT”
“It’s a ‘Champions’ tie, we have a lot at stake. It’s a game with our people at the Camp Nou and it’s very important, but it’s a normal week in terms of preparation. At the training level, nothing has changed”, expressed the coach of the culé team, Jonatan Giráldez.
About playing at the Camp Nou, the Galician coach highlighted the precedents, which have been “quite favorable” to the visitors in fields with games with “a lot of atmosphere”. Even so, the positive part is that the players “are prepared” and have the experience of “playing on the big stages”.
“In the debate about whether to open stadiums, first we have to fill the Johan. And our input is normally very good,” said Giráldez, who considers the meeting as “a starting point.” On the difference with respect to other games, he stressed that “less will be heard” what they say from the bench and they will have to reduce “a possible overexcitement.”
Finally, the technician acknowledged that they have asked for “many tickets”. “Yesterday my grandparents came from Galicia, but during the week it has been the same,” he concluded.