Alexia: “We are a more mature and expert team to face this final”

The captain of Barça Femení Alexia Putellas assured this Friday that the team reaches the final of the Women’s Champions League against OL Lyonnes as a “more mature” team with more experience than in previous seasons, after having transformed last year’s defeat against Arsenal into a source of motivation to fight for the European title again.

“We are a more mature team. The experiences we have given you that. We never want to lose, and even less so in a Champions League final, but we have always used defeats as a way to improve. Since we lost last year we have tried to transform that feeling into energy and motivation to have another opportunity,” he said at the press conference prior to the match that will be played this Saturday at the Ullevaal stadium in Oslo.

The Spanish international highlighted the equality between both finalists. “In football there is always uncertainty, but I do believe that we are the two best teams. Both at the level of players and coaches, it will be a highly contested match,” he stated, before stressing that the previous finals between both clubs will have no influence. “You cannot compare one season with another or one final with another. Each team has followed its path and has evolved. Previous finals will not influence tomorrow’s,” he assured.

Putellas also recalled the growth experienced by Barça since that first continental final lost precisely against the French team. “We faced Lyon in our first final and in the first half we already lost 0-3. There we saw the real level of the European champions and we put on the work suit to get to where we are today. Sharing this entire journey with these teammates, and also with some who are no longer here, is something very special,” she said.

The double Ballon d’Or winner considers that the main difference compared to those years is the evolution of the team. “They have been installed for a longer time in the context of being the best or being among the best. We have wanted to climb up there in a short time. Lyon has always had the objective of winning the Champions League and great players. This is probably the final in which both teams are most similar in terms of quality,” he explained.

Regarding the importance of facing the most successful club in the competition, with eight ‘Champions’, Alexia recognized that it has added value. “It is special that it is Lyon because it is the team that has won the most Champions Leagues, but as long as Barça is in a final, I don’t care about the rival. We always say clearly what our objective is: to win all the possible titles. They have done it too and that is why one of the two will lift this trophy,” she alleged.

Asked about her future, Putellas avoided entering into any matter unrelated to the final. “This match is very special, it is a Champions League final. Right now it is the most important thing for the team, for me and I hope also for all the ‘culers’,” he concluded.

Finally, he claimed Barça’s competitive continuity as the true success of the project. “It could be a mistake to focus only on winning or losing tomorrow. For me, success is what we have done all these seasons. After that first final we asked ourselves what we should do to win this trophy and we continue to have the same motivation every year. True success is maintaining that winning mentality season after season,” he concluded.