Laia Aleixandri: “We are going to win the Olympic Games”

Laia Aleixandri (Santa Coloma de Gramenet, 2000), is one day away from City of Manchester to win at premier and recently became the champion of League of Nations with the Selection spanishwhich made him able to play a Olympic Games this summer

What is your first memory of a ball?

Every time my father explains this to me, he tells me that what they say about people being born with balls in their hands seems like a lie, but it just is. My father brought me Camp Nou Since I was very small and from what he explained to me, I would sit in silence, without speaking and watch how they play, I fell in love with this sport. Since then I have always had a ball by my side, I have always wanted to play soccer since I was a child, at home I tried to convince everyone to play with me. Then on Plaza de la Vilain Santa Colomawhere I live, I also always play, that’s why, this sport is a love at first sight that I always have and fortunately it accompanied me and where I grew.

Did you start directly on an all-girls team, was it co-ed…?

I signed up when I was 4 or 5 years old and back then there weren’t as many women’s teams as there are now. I was playing in the square with my friends and the father of one of them was a coach of a football team. San Coloma de Gramenet and he told me to sign up. They were all boys except me, but it was one of the best stages I remember in football, from 5 to 12 years old. It made me grow a lot and the truth is that I can’t complain because I never received any ugly gesture towards me during that stage, I lived it as one more.

How do you remember your time at Barça since they signed you when you were 12?

At first I noticed a lot of changes when I went from playing with all boys to being a women’s team. Also because he’s so small, so it’s normal. But he signed me Barça This is the dream of my life, the club of my life and therefore everything is easier, because of the excitement that I have and being surrounded by the facilities that the club has. Barçato all colleagues, which is incredible… It’s a great step and a great stage.

Do you still have relationships with teammates you met at Barça?

Many, as a group of players, we are always developing at the same time and that is why you build stronger relationships. In Ona Batllewith the Aitana Bonmati I also shared almost all my years at Barça, incl Claudia Pina and then out of Barça together Paula Fernandez, Berta Pujadas…many players are now out of other clubs as well. That stage was very special, not only because of where we were, but because of the fun we had playing together. I remember that even when we were young, we played football which was not normal, we enjoyed it a lot.

Two rivals as roommates

With Ona Batlle, it’s also funny because we agree that she was in the Manchester United and me in it city. Last year, in fact, we lived together. He’s one of the most special people I’ve had in this sport and it’s great to be able to share that experience with him. We play “together” at Etihad in a derby Manchester and it was a brutal experience. And not only that, but also the fact of his existence as a person for a whole year Manchester

After Barça, Atlético de Madrid signed you when you were 16. How would you describe your time with the team?

Within Atlético de Madrid I fulfilled my dream of becoming a professional playerthat this is the most important step that I believe can be made in football, although at the same time it is quite difficult to leave home so young to look for opportunities, because at that time the Barça I didn’t think much of the quarry. I have a few options to go out and I am very surprised that the Atlético de Madrid is interested in me This is a team that just won the league and when I arrived we get two leagues in a row and it’s brutal. I established myself as a player, I grew a lot and I was able to show my football in the professional field thanks to them. They always treated me so well, I came in so young and ended up being one of the captains. They said goodbye to me as if I had been there all my life and I am very grateful for that and all the love they gave me.

And now, how many seasons have you been at City, what differences do you notice in the Premier compared to La Liga?

There are many changes. I think Today, the Premier is the best European league. Seen in the image rights that are there and everything that moves, the amount of people that follow this league, all the fans, the whole stadium, even the men’s stadiums too. He Arsenal has been ‘Sold Out’ I don’t know how many times this season… I can say that the fans, the organization and the level of players here make this league more attractive and more high speed.

They had a very consolidated structure that they were able to take advantage of. From there England win at eurocup, They already know how to use this product. Both organizational and image rights in terms of television, sponsors… It is clear that they are not only committed to women’s soccer but they know how to run this organization in a way favorable to the sport.

The league season is coming to an end and the title is between you and Chelsea, what madness would you do if you won the league?

Just the other day I talked about it with my partner and come on, I’ll do anything. Even though I’m not one to do a lot of crazy things, but if we win the league I’ll still do something like make my hair sky blue We will do everything we can to win and, if it happens, it will score a lot. Besides, If we win, Leila Ouahabi and I will be the first Spaniards to win the Premier in the history of women’s football. and that’s pretty cool, besides the fact that it’s a blast to win at premier. So, maybe I’m doing something crazy, although I haven’t written it down yet.

You were one of the 15 who resigned from the Spanish team and, as you said later, it was very painful for you to miss that World Cup. How did you deal with coming back and being able to play with your teammates again?

I’m excited to be back. There was a time when I wasn’t going and in the end it was difficult because representing your country and in world This is the most a player can choose from. So, all in all, I’m very happy to be back, feeling like I can help and contribute to this team. Furthermore, at the point where I’m at on both a personal and professional level, it’s something that’s very important to me, so I’m very happy to be back.

Have the internal changes been noticed after the controversy over what happened to Rubiales at the World Cup?

This is before and after. In the organization there are people who did not continue, people who continued. Above all, it changed the freedom that did not exist within the women’s group and they were developing in terms of professionalism, which gradually changes. Now there are many improvements in terms of schedules, trips, planning, I think we are gradually reaching the level needed.

You recently won the Nations League, what does that title mean to you?

It is very exciting, especially because it is my first national team title. It was a competition where we were at a very high level, not only in the last four but in the whole competition, and I remember that we had a super winning mentality. We play against Holland and then the final match France, which are teams of a very high level and we know how to manage the game in a very good way. And when you win a title you remember all the people who are important to you and all the efforts you made until that day. Most of all, I remembered my whole family, my boyfriend…

And this summer you will be at the Olympics How do you see the team facing the Games?

I can see us very well. Especially since it will be the first experience like this for everyone and that adds an extra thrill that we have to manage in a good way. But there is no doubt that we are a super competitive team and, of course, we are going to win this Olympics with the utmost enthusiasm and hopefully we will do a great performance and enjoy this experience.

Because of bad luck we will not be able to continue with Olympic Village, which eventually gets you a little excited, walking around town and meeting athletes in all modalities. If I’m not mistaken, we’ll stay in a hotel in Nantes, because we’ll be there for two games and then I don’t know where the third one will be, but hey, we’ll have separate hotels. All I know is if we advanced later, I can’t remember if it was in the semis or the final, which was played in Paris, We will live there in the Olympic Village. Then we will also fight with that extra motivation, we have to win no matter what to reach the Olympic Village. But hey, other than that we hope to go far and live it with the greatest enthusiasm.

And for the Euro Cup, what do you think of your next qualification rival, Denmark?

Denmark They are a very tough opponent, they are a team that always costs us. We will play there first and then in Tenerife, at home, the season is over now and the factors are coming together that we will finish today, that there will be fatigue, we will have to manage several factors that will be difficult, but with full confidence and we hope to move forward. So far the qualifying matches for European Cup They are doing well, the level of the group given to us for this qualifier is high, Denmark I think it will be the hardest, that’s why we take it as a challenge and we hope to overcome it. Although there seems to be a lot left for European CupThe times have gone by so fast and this is what I have in mind, but for now I will focus on premierin winning the league and also in Olympicswhich is the closest thing we have

What is your prediction for the Champions League final on May 25 between Barça and Olympique Lyonesse?

One hundred percent support for Barça. I think it is, therefore, a very good match, one of the best teams in Europe today, but I want the team to win. Barça. I will go to see it, I have to do some actions with some sponsors before the game and I will stay to see it.

Laia Aleixandri’s perfect European eleven

For my ‘ideal eleven’, I will put it as a goalkeeper Cata Coll. Then Ona Batlle from the right side, to Irene Paredes and me from the middle now Selma Bacha left back I will put it in the middle of the field Father Guijarro, Aitana Bonmati already Lauren James. From front to Hansen, Salma Parallel already Lauren Hemp.