“Hello, I am Aitana.” It shouldn’t be the very first thing you’ll count on from a World Cup, Nations League, Champions League, Liga F, Ballon d’Or and FIFA Player of the Year winner. Aitana Bonmati reminds Xavi of himself, the Barcelona coach, legend and World Cup winner has stated. Pep Guardiola has referred to as her the Andres Iniesta of the ladies’s recreation. Forget the trophies, these statements would cast off the necessity for an introduction. But in a black high-neck jacket the place she would typically cover her mouth, Bonmati was warmly saying who she was for the good thing about journalists from the Asia-Pacific area.
Aitana Bonmati reminds Xavi of himself, the Barcelona coach, legend and World Cup winner has stated(FC Barcelona)
It didn’t shock that Bonmati rated 2023 as “maybe the best year of my life.” When you play for Spain and Barcelona, it makes it simpler to win particular person trophies, she stated. Spain have the successful mentality however equally vital is their enchancment in bodily potential. Time was when Spain wouldn’t match USA Sweden or France in physicality, stated Bonmati.
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The clutch of particular person and staff accolades haven’t sated her. “I want more. I am very ambitious. I want to be a better Aitana every year,” she stated on a Teams name on Wednesday.
Ambition was a recurring theme in her solutions. The Olympic gold is a goal for 2024 as is the try and win 4 titles for Barcelona in 2023-24, yet one more than what they managed final time period. In 2022-23, Barcelona received Liga F. Champions League and Supercopa de Espana. This time, they’ve bagged Supercopa and lead Liga F on 54 factors after 18 video games, 10 greater than second-placed Real Madrid. Barcelona are within the quarter-finals of the Champions League the place they meet Norway’s Brann over two legs later this month. On Thursday and on March 15, Barcelona tackle Athletic Club within the Copa de la Reina semi-finals, a event the place they misplaced within the spherical of 16 final season.
Does that make Barcelona’s ladies staff higher than the boys’s now? “I don’t want to compare. We have grown over the past few years. But I remember from five-six years ago, when we didn’t win the league. Now, it seems easy but it is not,” stated Bonmati. Eight Liga F titles, together with 4 in a row, make Barcelona essentially the most profitable staff in Spain however earlier this century Barcelona had been within the second division.
But as a lot titles matter what Bonmati want to bear in mind when she retires is what teammates and coaches consider her. She stated this whereas replying to HT asking what the oft-repeated remark that she improves teammates imply to her. “One of the most important things I would like to have when I retire is what other players and coaches say about me. Football is more than moving on your own. It is also about creating space for your teammates. At Barcelona, we know each other well so I try to make movements to make space for others. I am not a selfish footballer.”
Which then explains why Bonmati desires to make use of her newly acquired standing to enhance ladies’s soccer. “It is better than a few years ago but we are fighting for everything we deserve. There is a lot to do and salary is just one of the things. I would like institutions to a make a good investment in women’s football so that it gives us an opportunity to grow.”
Now that she is thought in “more houses” than ever earlier than, perhaps there’ll come a time when girls and boys can have ladies footballers as idols, stated Bonmati. “That didn’t exist” in her time so Bonmati stated she grew up idolising Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi “for the way they took care of the ball.” And Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. “Mornings would feel different when Barcelona were due to play in the afternoon,” she stated.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
