BARCELONA, 27 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Barça Femení coach, Jonatan Giráldez, assured that they are deserving of qualifying for the final of the Women’s Champions League after the draw at the Spotify Camp Nou (1-1) and the triumph in the first leg in London (0-1 ), and denied that Chelsea were superior in this second leg.
“On the field we have been deserving of the draw and the classification. When you qualify for a final you know that what you achieve is not easy. At the defensive level we have done a great job. We have been good in transition, in direct play, in second plays… Overall we have dominated many phases of the game with the ball”, he said at a press conference.
“It’s a semifinal and it depends on the two games. In the first leg we were better and the result was short, in this round we were better because of the chances we created. None from Chelsea in the first half. But we haven’t materialized the chances. They didn’t they seemed to be going for the game, but to play to be alive”, he commented on the semifinal.
For this reason, he was “very happy” for the players and ‘staff’, and for the fans. “Thank you for the support you have given us today since the reception and the game, which has been hard. We have suffered but we have achieved what we wanted, to be in the final. We will have a month to recover and prepare. We have to celebrate this classification because It is the merit of many people,” he acknowledged.
“With the goal they have been more aggressive under pressure, it has been difficult because we have conceded quickly after our goal. It was then to know how to compete and give this version that is not what we are used to giving”, he commented on a phase of the match in which Chelsea locked them in their area.
About his euphoric goal celebration, something he is not used to doing, he explained. “We must not forget with the tie we were in the final, they needed to score to tie the tie, two to win. Emotionally, scoring for us was important and that is why the celebration, I have let myself go a bit,” she was honest.
“Caroline Graham Hansen is in the highest echelon, I see her train every day and she is one of the best in the world in imbalance, in one against one, in finishing… It has been difficult due to the injury but she is very well and is in great shape level at the most important moment of the season”, commented on the double goalscorer in this tie, and key player to be in the Eindhoven final.
On the other hand, asked about an Alexia who in the end did not play, he reiterated that he did not want to risk his return. “I had spoken to Alexia about the situation. But the feeling at the time of the match is that it was too open, fast and demanding. It was too risky to return like this and I already said that I would not take any risk. We will try to see her in the next match to that you leave to ask and so that it can play”, signalled, relaxed.