Jorge Vilda and the captains of the Spanish team appreciate the leap in human resources, sports equipment and facilities that puts them at the men’s level at the gates of the great continental tournament
A day after the announcement by the Spanish Football Federation (FEF) of the substantial improvement in conditions for the women’s team, Jorge Vilda and his captains, Irene Paredes, Alexia Putellas and Patricia Guijarro, took stock of this leap of quality and its sensations in the weeks before the start of the European Championship, a tournament that Spain is facing with great ambitions for the first time.
“We know how important the spread of women’s football is. For three days we have been preparing for the European Championship. It is true that a lot has changed since that World Cup, where we arrived better than ever and where we felt that “We could now look every team in the face. We won our first game in a World Cup and we made it very difficult for the United States, who later became champions, a penalty prevented us from reaching the quarter-finals,” recalls the Spanish coach himself about the comparison with the 2019 World Cup in France.
“Since then, a lot of good news has come in, both individually and collectively. The raising of the level of the players, a Federation dedicated to women’s football, not only in terms of conditions and image rights, but in everything we have at our disposal in terms of human resources, sports equipment, facilities… exactly the same as the men’s team and in the end that has its result. Together with the professionalization of all the players and the result of all that sum is the great level that we have now,” added the Madrid coach during an informative breakfast organized by Europa Press.
“We can focus on what’s important and in the end we have to thank the Federation’s commitment. What was drawn yesterday has been drawn and also with a smile on his face. It’s a historic agreement, and not just because of the quantities we want better, but because of everything to do with equalizing the division against the masculine and setting that precedent. There have been many months of very difficult negotiations, in the end everyone has their interests and in the end we wanted to reach an agreement that covers a lot,” he concluded.
«The conversations were conducted in a friendly tone, very cordial. The Federation wanted a long-term agreement, the issue of travel is very topical, especially as a result of an agreement in which things were not done as they should be done… », Luis Rubiales explained at the time.
“There was a huge shortage when we arrived at the Federation four years ago, mainly in the area of image rights. I think it’s a good agreement, in a cordial atmosphere, although there have been tough negotiations because concepts that are difficult to realize were asked for, so we did a comparative study of the five or six best teams in Europe,” explained the chairman of the FEF.
The step forward fills with hope a group that continues to take steps forward towards the elite of world football. “You arrive on the first day and they show you all the tools we’re going to have, the improvements in work and staffing, and if you’re already motivated, then a lot more. There are two or three very exciting years for the national team and it is a matter of working day in and day out,” estimated the best player of the moment, Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.
Source: La Verdad
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