Alexia Putellas interview with TUDN: “we all want respect” and “want to leave a legacy” for the next generation

FC Barcelona and World Cup-winning midfielder, Alexia Putellas, spoke to TUDN while on a pre-season tour of Mexico with her club side, in which she insisted that all players “want respect” to be able to be focussed on football.

Alexia was asked about the state of women’s football, and the question came in light of the incident in her home nation, where Spanish Football Federation President, Luis Rubiales, kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips.

“We all want there to be respect for our profession, the same way there is with the men’s game, we simply fight for that. We don’t only need the help of the players, the togetherness is the first step. We want to leave a legacy, so that the next [generation] don’t have to worry about these things, because in the end it’s energy you’re using up focussing on things that aren’t really your job”

Alexia says there are ‘many years’ to go before she leaves football

“But not investing energy in meetings, in getting better infrastructures, better facilities that help you to do your job. For that we need executives, institutions that fight for those things for us to be able to focus on it.”

Alexia says she has not yet “come to terms” with Spain’s World Cup win, “the same as with Barcelona’s leagues and Champions Leagues. I always say the same, I’ll be aware of it when I hang my boots up. Then I think I’ll look back and I will have all of this, the moments with my teammates, the first times in Camp Nou, the connection with the fans, having left everything on the pitch”. But fear not: there are still “many years” to go until that happens.

Full screen

Alexia still has a roaring passion to play football

When asked why she didn’t take more rest after only finishing her World Cup campaign on August 20, Alexia reminded the interviewer of her huge sense of passion and enthusiasm for the game, as well as acknowledging the time she has spent on the sidelines: “we all know what my situation was last year, that I was injured almost all season after a knee operation, so I need to get back to my routine. My body also asked me for that, it needed a few days to rest and I had it, 15 days, 10 days felt like too much.”

The knee ligament injury on the eve of Spain’s Euro 2022 campaign saw Alexia miss the international tournament as well as the majority of Barcelona’s season, in which they won La Liga F and the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The midfielder featured in the final few games for Barcelona as well as playing a bit-part role for Spain at the World Cup, given her struggle to get back to full fitness.

‘You never know when will be the last time’

“Ever since I got injured I feel like you never know when will be the last time”, she continued, “if it’s going to happen again”, she said. “Also, it’s an experience to be at the Estadio Azteca, with so many fans, with Barça fans in Mexico, for me it’s something historic and I want to experience it and enjoy it”.

“The truth is we didn’t expect this level of intensity with the fans”, Alexia said when asked about the clamouring crowds that have followed the Barcelona squad since their arrival on the American continent. “We are so grateful to have the chance to be here, for the culés to be able to enjoy themselves too and we’ll try to take advantage of that and put on a show.”