WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Spain’s soccer star Jenni Hermoso breaks her silence in GQ magazine interview
The World Cup winner has been at the centre of a media storm following Luis Rubiales’ controversial kiss after the final.
Jenni Hermoso has broken her silence in an interview with GQ Magazine. The Spanish international spoke about how the aftermath of the Luis Rubiales incident has affected her, as well as the court case that has followed.
The Pachuca player took advantage of the interview to open up to the world and share her feelings on the most difficult period of her life - which her psychologist helps her to manage - before returning to the National Team. A few days ago, when Spain played Italy in Salerno, Jenni finally smiled again as she scored the winning goal late on in the game.
“Three months ago I wasn’t even a world champion, which is the biggest thing to aspire to be”, Jenni said “and of course I didn’t imagine I’d be in the spotlight. I have a lot of arguments with a friend because I don’t believe in destiny. For me they are things that happen because you’ve worked for them. I don’t know if life had this prepared for me or not, but it made me see everything in a different light and realise that even though I got to the highest place possible in my sporting career, there is a lot more. I have to give myself new objectives to be able to keep moving upwards.”
‘We can change lots of lives, even if we don’t all realise it’
“These weeks have been very difficult”, she admitted, “Also the fact of having to tell the same story over and over again was very painful. But I know I had to get it off my chest one way or another. I keep working on it with the help of my psychologist, who I’ve been with for many years. For me, mental health is just as important as daily training, just like the sleep needed to be able to go out onto the pitch. Thanks to her I feel strong and I’m not in pieces or thinking that I don’t want to play football anymore. I haven’t lost my love of the game.”
The Madrid-born attacker spoke after coming back into the international fold just days ago, the first time she wore the shirt of La Roja since lifting the trophy on August 20. “It was quite a tough day”, she said, “coming back after everything that had happened. I hadn’t seen my teammates either, I hadn’t worn any of the national team kit, nor the shirt with the star on. I left home feeling calm, then I had a low moment, but in general I try to be happy. For a player, there is nothing more beautiful than playing for your country.”
“I’ve always lived in a humble neighbourhood and it’s fundamental to have the working worker in mind”, Jenni continued. “Thanks to this sport we have a position and can change lots of lives, even if we don’t all realise it. Now, as champions, we are listened to more. At a personal level, I’m not fighting for a certain status. For me, my life is my neighbourhood, my family, my people, the most basic things. I won’t ever do anything just to earn more money. To be able to fight for [better working conditions for female players] is a source of pride and I’d like to make my mark there. If I have to stand up to make a change then I’ll do it.”
Hermoso opens up on the fight for equality
The former Barcelona player spoke about ‘the 15′, the group of players who initially stood up against the conditions for the Spain squad. “I’ve always enjoyed being part of the national team”, Jenni was keen to stress, “representing my country, but there was something that didn’t let me fully enjoy things, and if [the 15 players] hadn’t [called out the RFEF], it would all be the same.”
The movement that followed the incident, known as #SeAcabó (It’s Over), was a huge turning point in the world of women’s football, with players coming out in support of Jenni from all across the world. “With everything that’s happened, I think a lot of us have become more aware of what the word ‘feminism’ really means, including a lot of friends and family members. In football, we’ve experienced the fight for equality first hand; they called us greedy. It was always said we wanted equal pay and that’s not true. It annoys me a lot that people say women’s football doesn’t generate as much as men’s football. Obviously we know that and we never asked to be paid the same as them. We simply wanted the most basic of things: a minimum wage, respect and the opportunity to grow and become something big. As soon as we had it, we won a World Cup.”
Jenni continued: “I think that’s why it caused such a stir, and specifically, it caused a lot of personal damage. I have had to face the consequences of an act that I didn’t provoke, that I didn’t choose nor premeditate. I have received threats, and you never get used to that.”
Support from men’s team ‘would have helped us a lot’
The player has shown her brother as being a constant source of support, and somebody who has been with her during this tough time: “He watched me become world champion and, without wanting to, he’s ended up being a part of this because he was there through it all with me. My brother has been very important in this process and apart from all that comes from his support, he gives me a male viewpoint with the same values. He’s family, but also a man who is supporting the cause. For me, it’s very important he has that mentality.”
After mentioning her brother, Hermoso sent a message to the men’s Spain national team, who released a weak statement in the aftermath of the Rubiales incident, saying that she understands “that everyone thinks how they like and I’d also only love to focus on sport, but when you see unfair situations, you have to be on one side or the other. People will love me or hate me, but I have my way of thinking and I don’t mind saying it openly: their support might not have made things simpler, but of course it would have helped us a lot.”
‘For better or worse, I’m going to learn to take advantage of things’
“I’m a taurus, I’m very stubborn”, she said, “my mum has always said that. I’ve always been very impulsive but, with time, I’ve learnt to be a person that controls things better, not so much my feelings, but situations. Although right now there are many things that I can’t control.”
When asked how she would like to be remembered, Jenni said “someone who has wanted to put Spain at the top, but above all, someone who has tried to change mentalities. For better or worse, this is the way things have gone, but I’m going to learn to take advantage of it in a positive way to fight for what I think is good for society. The #SeAcabó movement should bring about a new era. The past months, with everything that has happened, my mind has left football for brief moments: I forgot I was a footballer. But I go back to training, to a stadium, I put the kit on, and I want to give my all again. In the Olympic qualification, in Mexico, in the National Team. I’m going to keep on enjoying this sport.”