Spain star Jenni Hermoso incredibly happy and looking forward to Women’s World Cup

Jenni Hermoso did not play against Panama in La Roja’s first friendly match before the Women’s World Cup, which gets underway in Australia and New Zealand on 20 July, yet she’s still entirely happy. The Madrid-born player was one of the Spanish players sat in the stands, but despite not played she arrived at the Ramón Sánchez Puerta stadium in Avilés, in norther Spain, with a smile on her face. Calm. Happy. She took her time with all the children and fans who asked for her autograph. Unrushed. Enjoying the moment. This is the new approach for the forward from Pachuca.

After being left out of the European Championships last year due to injury she has learned that good things do come, especially when one fights hard to achieve them. “Personally, I am in one of the best moments of my life. I feel very good. Mentally and emotionally, I’m super happy. Going to Mexico has done me a lot of good. I’m excited and eager for the World Cup to be here and for us to accomplish something beautiful,” she says, radiantly.

Her situation was not easy. After leaving Barça last summer and missing the Euros, there were even doubts about her future with the Spanish national side. Things got worse in September when a group of players known as ‘The 15′ launched a barrage of complaints towards Jorge Vilda. Although she was not part of the group, she was one of the captains and was under immense pressure. She spent months outside the national set-up.

Hermoso living a beautiful live in Mexico

At the same time, at her new club Pachuca, she began to emerge as one of the key figures. A star signing. At 33 years old, she decided to take control of the situation. So, she came back into the Spanish national side. Quietly, scoring goals and delivering spectacular performances in the Nations Cup. An absolute transformation. A new, more mature Jenni, calmer and focused on her career.

“The new league and the new club have given me the opportunity to know myself better. I enjoy my own company. I take pleasure in things that I perhaps did not value before. Now, I can say that I am happy, I feel very happy. The change has been good for me, I couldn’t ever say I regret anything because I have lived and am living one of the best experiences of my life,” she explains.

Jenni acknowledges that in Mexico she has been made to feel like a globally recognized star. She even finished the season as the highest scorer across all the major leagues. “They have taken good care of me. That’s not to say that they haven’t here... but in Mexico, I feel valued, I feel good. I had to change something in my life to personally feel as I do today. I hope that whatever comes from now on will be just as good,” she says.

Jenni is different now. She voluntarily chooses to speak from the heart about her recent journey, although she acknowledges that the team is what matters most at the moment. “In recent matches, I’ve been playing as an attacking midfielder, and it’s true that it’s my preferred position. I really enjoy playing between the lines. But there are many of us and we need to organize as best we can. I will accept whatever comes,” she acknowledges. A new Jenni is ready for the World Cup. A leader in every sense. An undeniable star.