Despite it being “the most important match on Spanish soil” for the women’s team, the one that will face the Netherlands this Friday (9pm) in the semifinals of the final four of the Nations League, in the previous press conference practically the entire The leading role fell to Alexia Putellas.
“When training ends this afternoon we will evaluate everything with the coaching staff and decide on the 23 players called up. We don’t want to give clues to the rival,” said the hoarse coach, Montse Tomé, who did not want to reveal whether the Barça captain, still in recovery process from his knee injury, will be one of the two discards.
“Alexia is doing well in her readaptation process. At the moment, she is training what she can,” the coach limited herself to saying about the Blaugrana. “First we will communicate the call to the team, who is the one who should know it, and then we will communicate it to everyone,” she stated on the matter, shortly before watching how the Barça captain exercised with the group in the afternoon session. On the other hand, Teresa Abelleira, the other player who has physical problems, was not on the field.
With the Alexia topic put to rest, Tomé recalled that against the Netherlands the team has “an important objective, which is to be in the Games.” The two finalists will be in Paris and if France, host of the Olympics, beats Germany there will still be a third ticket at stake in the match for third and fourth place.
“We have analyzed the Netherlands a lot. They play quite directly, trying to win the dispute in the center of the field and in the second play Beerensteyn can be vertical. Their three centre-backs have great hitting. They have great variety in the game. We have a plan. Our weapon is possession and we must wear them down with the ball to hurt them,” Tomé explained about the Dutch.
Despite the praise of the rival, Tomé trusts his pupils, a group of players with “an international background that they carry within them and makes them tremendously competitive.” “In the end we are in the elite and for many moments you go through situations that you have to overcome. They have that ambition. They show it every day. The players want to continue learning every day. They make us enjoy the profession,” he continued his praise for the team.
Finally, the coach pointed out “the love” they have already received from the Seville fans. “We hope that the public will support the team,” the Asturian wished for the fans who come to La Cartuja in Seville, an emergency venue decided a few weeks ago after not being able to go to Cádiz.
