“I will have to sit with my son for a long time to explain to him what happened in the World Cup final” | Relief

More than a football player.Irene Paredes (32 years old, Legazpi) is one of the best embodiments of this phrase. Also in the press center. The one he attends every national team training camp without question to talk to the media. On this occasion, before the decisive “final four” of the League of Nations, in which Spain plays for a ticket to the Olympic Games, he gave an interview to the publication Relief. He did it as always. With his usual seriousness and some emotional smile when remembering some moments.. No secrets. Although regarding those that affect other colleagues. The Barça center opened during a short conversation to inform us How is the national team and how did it survive one of the darkest periods of Spanish football?. A chapter in which she, as captain, along with Alexia, led a revolution that would cause changes in the sport before and since.

How are you?

Oh well. I’m glad to be here and excited about the challenges ahead.

We see you well…

I confirm that I am on top. It’s true that it cost me. I had various ailments, I had a weak immune system, I caught diseases and it seemed that they would not come, but finally I was fine. I push myself to the limit.

This article focuses on Alexia Putellas and her controversial appeal. What do you think about everything that has formed around him?

I’m not going to go there. The coach gives a list, it is her right to give it. It is true that Alexia has not played for Barça and is in a recovery process that is almost complete. This is his injury and his situation. So she’ll have to talk about it.

If you were a coach, would you call him?

I’m not going to judge him. I’m not a coach. I’m a player and I need to focus on my health.

How important is it for Alexia to be so focused?

It is important. She is one of the captains. Regardless of what he contributes on the field, which is a lot, he contributes a lot off the field. He leads the group very well and his figure is relevant.

Doesn’t it sadden you that every call is always surrounded by some kind of controversy of this kind?

We are very susceptible to what happens, both for better and for worse. There are times when we have injuries and that obviously hurts the club, but it also hurts the player. Each situation is individual. At that time it was clear that my body was not fine and I needed to recover well. I hope Alexia makes a full recovery here and can be available as soon as possible.

The path to the League of Nations began in Oliva with intense concentration. Is it also important to win to close the circle?

For us this is a purely sporting goal. We want to win the Nations League and obviously we have an internal goal of getting to the Olympics. This is what we want: to be good today, to train today and tomorrow and to be in the best conditions to come and win the tournament.

How would you explain to your son, when he grows up, what happened in the World Cup final?

Ugh. I’ll have to sit with him for a while to explain everything that happened. I will try to focus on the positive and hope to tell it to you in the form of an anecdote. This meant huge changes in society. I hope you don’t have to see or feel similar actions against anyone and that what happened is like the movie. And well, I will emphasize how much it meant to me and the team that he was there, giving us strength.

We have always seen you as very confident and firm. Have you ever felt insecure or afraid of something?

I didn’t feel afraid, but I felt tired. And anger. About the inability to enjoy the moment and the fact that a colleague has to suffer from all this. I always had a clear idea in my mind of what needed to be done. And it is true that this creates some uncertainty, because at this moment you are putting your professional future, your career at risk and extreme situations arise, but I am very clear about my values ​​and what I should do, and I follow it until then. It’s over until it’s over.

Who did you lean on the most during this difficult period?

In my family. This is significant because it means coming home, and all those nerves, discomfort and anger were shared with Lucia. And it was her turn to support me, but our colleagues also supported each other, because we always knew what we needed to do, and we demonstrated it.

Monse Tome was very insistent on celebrating the change with Vilda. Which differences do you consider most important?

I don’t want to go into assessing our coach, much less compare it with the past and how that past went. I focus on the present. Yes, we feel that this is something new, with a different energy, with different goals, and that’s what we’re focusing on.

How did the change of venue appeal to you? What do you think?

This took us by surprise. We were very surprised, but we also understand that there are people who are moving this forward and working on it. And I don’t want that. Nobody does this to be annoying. I understand that this is an error or misunderstanding. The sooner we accept this, which we have already accepted, we will have to focus on the game.

Do you think that Spain at a general level (League, RFEF…) took advantage of the boom of your World Cup victory?

It is clear that in winning the World Cup, if it had happened differently, people would have focused more on the sporting aspect rather than the non-sporting aspect as it happened. We are optimistic that what has happened and what we have experienced, and especially what our teammate Jenny has endured, will serve as a change in society and will impact how we are perceived in society as footballers. We understand that this adds. This is the reality that has affected us. No one can take away the title of world champions from us. We, despite the fact that sometimes it is difficult for us and we continue to freak out about being world champions, we are happy and hope that we can extend this legacy.

What’s it like working with Jonathan Giraldes knowing he’ll be leaving at the end of the season?

It took us by surprise, but we immediately realized that this is the professional life of an athlete or coach. It’s completely legitimate for him to want a different experience – he’s visiting the Washington Spirit -. We appreciated his sincerity, and moreover, I think he explained it very well at that press conference. And we do a little bit of what he does. The season is not over. We have certain goals and with them we go to the end. When the season ends he will be gone and other players will leave and others will come, but until then we must achieve our goals.

Do you miss Mapi Leon, with whom you became an inseparable pair in the Barça defense over the years?

This is also part of what we are talking about. Just as I was absent for some time, she, unfortunately, had to be absent for several months. I just hope he gets better. Obviously there are a lot of players and the way Ingrid has adapted, the opportunities Martina has had and the way we do it is just perfect. You have to adapt because you never know who you’ll be playing with.

There is a lot of talk about the financial situation of the club. Is there a fear that the feminine will be squeezed by a few key updates, like Alexia?

I don’t know the numbers in which Alexia is moving. I just hope it resumes. The rest of us know that the club is in a difficult situation. We also know that the women’s section is at a time when it has advantages and is one of the sections that performs best. As I said, there are people ready for this. People looking at bills, sponsorships, expenses… At this point we have what we need and with that we achieve our goals.

Did Irene Paredes dream as a child of going to the Olympic Games, representing Spain?

I didn’t dream about it because I didn’t even see it as a possibility. I almost saw it more when I was in athletics. Apparently, perhaps it could be because there were women and women who reached the minimum. I didn’t see it in football, but the moment this opportunity opened up, I knew I would fight until the end to get there.

What is the atmosphere in the dressing room in the wake of this great goal?

You breathe with desire. Desire to compete. I’m looking forward to Friday and ready to win. Considering that winning a match is very difficult.