Since the conflict between the Federation and the national team players raised tension, many players had explained how they had felt, but not Aitana Bonmatí, considered the best soccer player on the planet when she was recognized as the best player in the World Cup. The Barça soccer player confessed that they have “slept little” and that they have had “a lot of stress and anxiety” throughout this call, but she wanted to send a conciliatory message to “get back to normal.”
“The first days were complicated because of how the call was given but things are calmer. We didn’t sleep much, we were anxious and it was difficult for everyone, but we played such a great game against Sweden that we ourselves asked ourselves how we could have played such a good game. Now we are calmer but we continue with the battles ahead of us,” she explained.
As the days went by, the players have focused on football and the situation has normalized within the team, something that they all wanted. “We want to return to normal, knowing that there are things to improve, that we have committed ourselves to making everything go better, to leave a good legacy for future generations. We are a social and sporting example and what we want is to be treated the same as men,” she summarized.
Regarding whether he supports the continuity of Montse Tomé in the position of coach, Bonmatí avoided the question. “I couldn’t say anything else. It is not a topic that does not concern us. The first days were complicated but now we focus on football and leaving controversial issues aside,” she concluded.
For her part, Mariona Caldentey praised the work of Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes as captains of the national team when meeting with the Federation and keeping them informed. “We haven’t been as involved as them. They were with us and then they went to the meetings. They are the ones who have had the most stress and we are here to help them. What they have done these days is something to praise and thank,” she said.
Caldentey was happy for the support they have received from all over the world and considered that theirs was “a global fight.” “We are footballers but we have a responsibility and a voice that we must use to leave football and women a little better than we found them.” Finally, she hoped that what happened “in this concentration is not repeated because they have been very hard days. We want to return in October and continue playing and winning,” she concluded.
For her part, Montse Tomé thanked the support that comes with having the trust of Víctor Francos, president of the CSD, who in a phone call confirmed her in the position beyond the match against Switzerland. In addition, she confessed that she is now “calmer” after a few “strange” days in which “they had things to solve.”
This afternoon’s press conference had nothing to do with the day of its presentation. The coach, much less tense, responded with confidence and spoke about her future, the tension that existed at the beginning of the call and how she sees her players before the match against Switzerland.
Tomé acknowledged that this team “has grown a lot in a short time. We have been evolving, but this has made a change in a few months and years. We are at a key moment for everything to move much faster. I hope and wish that everything goes forward and positively.”
Regarding the call from Víctor Francos, president of the Higher Sports Council, he said that it was “a call that I appreciate. Franco’s words because they give that boost that is needed in times like this.” Furthermore, he made it clear that she always saw herself in office beyond the Swiss party. “I never felt like that. From the beginning I felt strong and confident. What happened made us suffer, but once we were able to do what they asked for and we were able to focus on football, our face changed,” she concluded.
