As a center-back or left-back, Merel Van Dongen (Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 02/11/1993) always performs. Intelligent, expeditious, very forceful and with a goal, Atlético's defense is one of the fixed ones in the rojiblanco eleven. It was since his arrival at the club last summer. In fact, Dani González already gave him the title back on August 21, 2020 in the quarterfinals of the Champions League last season against Barça.
With Sánchez Vera, who returned to the bench in January of this year, she has not moved from the lineup either and she, fully integrated, could not be happier: “It is the most united group of all in which I have been”. World runner-up with the Netherlands at the 2019 World Cup in France, Van Dongen was already adapted to Spain when he signed for Atlético thanks to his two seasons at Real Betis.
From his time in Seville has a special accent, but also a salt shaker that does not go unnoticed while serving ACE in the preview of the second derby between Atlético and Real Madrid (1:30 p.m., LaLiga Sports TV) in the history of women's football. “When I arrived in Spain and discovered that Real Madrid did not have a women's team, I was quite surprised. I arrived and said 'come on, Real Madrid women's team, please,' and they listened to me“jokes the Dutch defense.
Van Dongen has no problem admitting that the arrival of the white team benefits women's football and even Atlético itself. The rojiblanco team faces the match three points behind the madridista, which occupies the third place, which this season gives access to the Champions League.
Precisely, the mats were eliminated from the maximum continental competition on Wednesday by Chelsea in a round of 16 in which they missed three penalties (one was herself). However, that is already forgotten. The Dutch defense would assume the responsibility of shooting another against Real Madrid: “Of course, Messi also missed a penalty, it happens even to the best in the world”. On his rival, stands out the figure of Sofia Jakobsson, maximum white wizard. “Her speed is always difficult to cover, I've been thinking about defending her for two days”, points out a Van Dongen confident in adding the three points against White.
How is the team after the elimination in the Champions League against Chelsea?
The truth is that we are fine, together and united because we know that this year we still have a lot to fight. We are clear that we have to qualify for the Champions League, so there is not much time to think about what happened and we are thinking about the next one, which is a great game.
What do you think you lacked to be able to pass the tie? Penalties?
With three penalties it is a little easy to say that we would be in the quarterfinals, but if we had scored a penalty away in London, it would have changed everything. We do have to learn to be more mature in these situations and take advantage of all the opportunities we have. We have had chances against Chelsea, one of the best teams in the world, and if we have them we have to mark them to be able to go to the quarterfinals. But we haven't.
Do they need to train penalties more?
Speaking of myself, I've been training them for weeks, I scored against Barça, but training penalties is worthless. When you are in a stadium, with the pressure of the match, people watching you … That is impossible to train, you can imagine it, you can make visualizations, but in a match it is different. In Champions there is even more pressure and it is difficult. Yes we are going to train them, but in the end it is to have that confidence and it is things of ourselves, in our heads.
“Training penalties is useless; when you're in a stadium, under pressure …”
Van dongen
And now comes the derby, you already took the first with a goal from you. What feelings do you have?
We are very confident because on Wednesday, against Chelsea, we played well, the way Atleti has to play: with the ball, creating, being vertical. We are on the right track, and that is why on Sunday we are going full throttle. We are going for the three points and we are super excited.
Final minutes against Real Madrid, there is a decisive penalty, would you catch the ball to shoot it?
Of course. Messi also missed a penalty, it happens even to the best in the world, you don't have to think so much: it's to shoot it and score it.
You play at home, there will be fans, Real Madrid is three points above in that Champions League place. Is it posed as a final?
I see it as a very important match, but not a final. There are still a lot of games to go. This year we play until June, in this we have to think. It is a super important game, we agree on that. I would not say that it is a final because then against the small teams we also have to be living it like that, because if we win three points now and then we draw two …
Which Real Madrid player do you find the most difficult to score?
For me it would be Jakobsson. His speed is always difficult to cover. I've been thinking about defending her for two days, and I have experience. From the Netherlands – Sweden of the World Cup semifinal to the matches with Heel and Real Madrid. It's going to be a nice fight.
Do you think that the arrival of Real Madrid has benefited women's football?
Absolutely. For women's football and for Atlético. Now it is great to have the Madrid derby, for the club it is beautiful and for women's football worldwide it is very important that Real Madrid be there. When I arrived in Spain and discovered that Real Madrid did not have a women's team, I was quite surprised. I arrived and said “come on, Real Madrid women's team, please” and they listened to me. It is important for the League that he is there, that he invests and that he helps raise the level.
Do you think there will be a change in protocol against the coronavirus, as you, the footballers themselves, have claimed to the Federation?
They have to look at themselves and what is done elsewhere. In other countries three or four games have been suspended and in Spain, more than 25. There is a problem. It is difficult yes, but the best protocol in the world is not. I look at myself every day and see what I can improve in life, in the field … Everyone has to do it. If we are postponing so many games, we have to look at it well and see that there are things that can be improved, we just say, please, do it.
How has your adaptation to Madrid been after passing through Seville?
I live in Alcalá, but every time I have free hours I go to Madrid because I love the city. There is always life, even if we are in the middle of a pandemic. And the same team, I've always felt at home, I can be who I am, I talk when I want to talk, I joke with all my teammates and on the pitch I also feel good. Every day I am with players who are among the best in the world, and it is a pride. I am very happy here.
What makes this Atlético more special?
The group is the first team in which I don't see anyone who wants to be the big star. It is the most united group of all that I have been in. If someone fails, there are 23 that will support you, just as when someone succeeds.
They have won the Super Cup, they have the objective of entering the Champions League, the League seems unattainable with this Barça … Do you think of the Queen's Cup?
I think that if we fight for the Queen's Cup, we qualify for the Champions League and win the Super Cup, we will have had a good season. We are going to fight the Cup and we are going to win everything we can. We are on the right track.
Virginia Torrecilla has already finished her chemotherapy treatment and, in the absence of some last tests, she could return soon … Are you happy?
We always have Virginia with us, in everything we do. We always start with “For you, for Vir, for everything, Atleti”. Everything we earn goes to her. There are bigger things than football and we can't wait any longer to have it on the field. In a few weeks it can have results and the day I step on the field, we will all cry. He is an example at Atlético and that is how we all see it. I hope the results are good and that she can already think about a future back in the field.