Alexia, del Clásico: “We know that Atlético fights a lot”

Alexia putellas (26 years old, Mollet del Vallès, Barcelona) is one of the current players at Primera Iberdrola. Forged as a leader in Barça and the National Team, the midfielder is signing an extraordinary start to the season, in which she has left great pearls in the form of goals, assists and sublime actions. In the midst of all this success, Barça's '11' attended an exclusive interview with Diario AS to talk about the first Barça-Atlético Clásico (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m., Barça TV) of the season.

You've had an unexpected extra break, how have you been handling it?

We do not know if that rest will be good or not. I wish they hadn't suspended both games. Above we found out a few hours before the game and it was a blow, because you work all week thinking that there is going to be a game and there isn't. I hope that Wednesday arrives and that not having competed in these two games serves a purpose.

There are people who see it as an advantage …

It depends on each one. There will be people who say that we arrive fresher and others, as is my case, who see it harmful because you already had the mind that it was going to be a super fast period with games that you hardly train and it has been the opposite and it has been long . These ten days seem as if we have been 100 days in November.

Atlético arrived after playing with Sporting (0-0). Were you surprised by the result?

On paper it is clear that it was normal for Atlético to win and it surprised everyone, whether you are from Barça or not. It happened to us a few seasons ago, and also with Sporting de Huelva. But, I've been saying for some time that in this League if you don't have a good day it can penalize you a lot and that can happen to anyone and to us too.

How do you face the Classic?

I think it will be a very competitive match. They don't give a loose ball and it's going to be a high intensity duel. I believe that the winner of the match will be the one who makes the fewest mistakes.

It seems that the situation is similar to that of the Champions League, with you arriving as favorites and Atlético touched. Do you expect to suffer as much as in that game?

Yes. We did not expect less because we know that Atlético fights a lot. Then he didn't generate much, but competing he was competed to the end. The level of competition and intensity will be the same this Wednesday for sure.

What do you think will be the key to trying to overcome that defensive intensity of Atleti?

The key is going to be what we want to happen during the game. If they have the ball, let them have it where we want them to have it and, if we are the protagonists with the ball, which I hope will be the way we want it. We must bring the party to our field and that they are subject to what we propose.

Barça is going to beat each Barça game …

In the end we came from the Champions League where we told each other and it was said that we had no goal. And it was a key game because we had just scored a lot of goals in the league and even in the Champions League and we realized that we couldn't miss any opportunity in front of goal. So, we have to make the most of the chances and we are lucky to have such good players both offensively and defensively, because if we start well from behind, it will surely end in a good scoring chance. The offensive phase we have very dominated and there are good players and it is relatively simple that in all games there is a goal.

Goals and goals like those he has signed in recent games, both with Barça and with the National Team. How are you seeing all the repercussions they have had?

I feel very good with those goals or without goals. I am happy to contribute the best to the team and I feel very comfortable, wanting to compete and continue scoring goals and helping the team.

She is close to surpassing Sonia Bermúdez's record (123 goals) as Barça's top scorer. Did you know you were so close (120 points) to this record?

When they informed me, I did not have the feeling that he had that many goals. I was very surprised, especially being close to a player that I remember when she was here the goals fell from her boots. I hope that the time comes for us to overcome it because it will be a good sign that things are being done very well at Barça.

If they lose in the Classical, they can even stay out of the Champions positions, although they have two games less than their rivals. There is no place for relaxation, is there?

At the beginning of the season we always tell ourselves that we have to go for the full victories. The precedents set by the league champions are that they have barely left any points along the way and that they have only signed a few draws. So our goal is that. We have just started and there is much left. There are many games, with days during the week, and I hope we continue on the path of recent years with full victories.

One of the teams that is putting pressure on them is Real Madrid. Did you expect it after that 0-4 on the first day?

Yes. In the end, Real Madrid have very good players and, as a squad, they deserve to be up there. For the quality and experience of the players who have signed and those who were already there. In the end that they are up there to me does not surprise me. I understand that it is a new project and that everything costs at the beginning, but I am not surprised by the footballers they have.

What do you think of the protocol for COVID-19 at Primera Iberdrola?

For us all this is chaos. It's like the competition is not really well organized. At the beginning it was a League and it was a League without testing. Then at five days it is with a test and if something happens between days 1 and 5 you follow the protocol of the autonomous community. It is all chaotic and it cannot be that in the classification there are teams with three games of difference. That is what it cannot be and even less looking at the calendar, I don't know when those games are going to be played.

With eleven games postponed and a tight schedule, do you think the League is adulterated?

All this has been a very big stick for everything and it is very complicated and there is a lot of responsibility when making a decision. But the feeling it gives me is that we are lurching around. These years after the World Cup were key to ending up being the best League in the world and right now we are not. In fact, the Premier is giving us a review of how to do things right. In the end we have to be humble and not believe something we are not and learn from those who are being the best, period.

What do you think of the war for television rights?

At first it was that nobody saw it. Then there is an audience with a Cup final with several million spectators and many more examples. And now that there is an audience, what there is not is television. In the end, we are putting sticks in the wheels ourselves and that is what should not be allowed.

How many tests do you pass at Barça?

From the Champions League and since the League began, at least 48 hours before they make us at least one. Then we do not have contact in the changing rooms, we shower at home and do not eat at La Masía, to avoid close contacts.

In Champions he said that he had not seen his mother for a month so as not to run the risk of catching it and not being able to play. Does it also now?

That was a personal choice of mine to try to minimize all possible contacts so as not to be left out of that competition, which was the ultimate goal. Now the maximum objective is also the League, but you cannot live nine months in a bubble. And that is so. You have to follow the rules of each community and that's it. Measures have also been taken at the club to avoid close contacts and if something happens, seven or eight players do not go home.

Do you think that professionalization could solve many problems at Primera Iberdrola?

I don't know what the solution is because it is very easy to be president. I know what the reality is and as well as data, what cannot be today is that this season there are more artificial grass pitches than natural than last year. That means we are going backwards and it cannot be allowed.

How do you assess the growth of recent years, with aspects such as the agreement, etc.?

The subject of the agreement is very frustrating. It took a long time to arrive, then problems when it came out like that of the youngest, now they have to sit down to renew it … I don't know. It gives the feeling that there is no progress and that each step that is taken is not strong enough or is not being solid to take. And I am very sorry because they are being the key years and it gives me the feeling that time is running out and we are not making the most of it as we should.

What dreams do you have now at Barça?

Now more than ever I think that the future does not exist. The closest thing is this season and the goal is to win everything and be happy every day. And at the same time, tomorrow will be better than today.