Latest news with #Putellas
France 24
24-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
'I only feel pain': Barca's Putellas after Champions League defeat
The Catalans were hoping for a fourth European crown but fell 1-0 in Lisbon against underdogs Arsenal, who claimed their second. Barcelona were aiming for a third consecutive triumph but came up short with a flat display, below their usual brilliant best. "We have to congratulate Arsenal, they set up well, but we were not at our level, and we couldn't find it," two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas told DAZN. "It hurts a lot, above all for the fans who did not deserve a final like this. "We're hurting, right now I only feel pain. Tomorrow we'll get back up and start trying again for next year." Barcelona coach Pere Romeu said his team needed to be "self-critical" but also said despite the defeat it did not taint their season. The Catalans won Liga F and the Spanish Super Cup and can complete a domestic treble in June when they face Atletico Madrid in the Copa de la Reina final. "Motivation to win is in the DNA of the players and this club," he said. "When you lose a final like this it's a complicated moment obviously, the season has been very good and this 90 minutes don't define the season." Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati, who has also won the Ballon d'Or twice, said she was "devastated" but pledged that the team would be back to add more silverware to their collection. "A large part of the sadness and frustration I have is for the fans that have travelled," she said. "I am really sorry. We will be back."
New Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Barca the team others look up to now: Bonmati
LISBON: Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati said the Catalans have become the side which other teams look up to now, ahead of the women's Champions League final clash against Arsenal on Saturday. French giants Lyon are the record eight-time winners of the competition but were beaten in last year's final by Barca and last won in 2022. By contrast Bonmati's Barcelona have won three of the last four editions of the competition and reached six finals in seven years, becoming Europe's dominant force. "I don't want to compare us with Lyon, they had their path and now we have our path," Bonmati told a news conference Friday. "We used to speak very well of them, for us they were a mirror in the past, and now we can tell we are the mirror, for a lot of teams. "We are proud of our path and we will try to be (even) more 'historical' tomorrow." Barcelona face Arsenal at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, with the Gunners reaching the final for the first time since winning the competition in 2007, back when it was the UEFA Women's Cup. It is the Catalans' 100th match in European competition, 12 years after they played their first, also against Arsenal. Barcelona were thrashed 7-0 over two legs in the round of 32 in the 2012-13 Champions League by the English side, with Alexia Putellas the only survivor of that squad. "There's no need to remind me of the scoreline," laughed Putellas, who like Bonmati is a two-time Ballon d'Or winner. "It was the first European game in the history of Barca Femeni, it was impossible to imagine then all that would come after... it's incredible the change we've had, and the evolution. "We became professional relatively recently and we have got to these six finals. I consider myself privileged to have lived this journey. "It's a nice anecdote that the first game was against Arsenal and tomorrow's is too, with this trophy on the line." Barcelona were criticised earlier in the season after suffering two league defeats against Levante and Real Madrid, with the latter the first time they have ever suffered a loss against their Clasico rival. However Putellas said the team were arriving in excellent shape to face Renee Slegers' side, after dispatching English treble-winners Chelsea in the semi-finals 8-2 on aggregate. "We arrive (at the final) with very good feelings, a lot of energy, we've worked well throughout the year," said Putellas. "We're feeling good in terms of our game play and also on a physical level." However she said that just because Barca have a rich recent history, they would not be taking a victory for granted. "We've won three Champions Leagues but that doesn't mean we start 1-0 up tomorrow," added the playmaker. "We'll leave our skins out there to win the trophy." Even though Arsenal are the underdogs on Saturday, they dispatched Lyon with an impressive 4-1 semi-final second leg triumph in France. "A final is a bit unpredictable, there are things you can't control," added Putellas. "They are in the final for a reason, scoring four against Lyon and knocking out Real Madrid too, but we feel if we're at our best, things will go well for us." Barcelona won the quadruple last season under Jonatan Giraldez, who left at the end of the season to be replaced by Pere Romeu. Although the team took some time to find their best level, they are in the running for repeating that feat, having already claimed Liga F and the Spanish Super Cup. "It's a special game because it's a final," said the coach. "This team has experience from previous finals, we've been working a lot this week and I like that, I've been speaking to all the staff... and it gives me the (feeling of) security that we'll do well. "We have to go out there to play a good game and try to dominate." — AFP
Fox Sports
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Putellas recalls Barcelona's humble start to Women's Champions League boss
Associated Press LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Alexia Putellas has been with Barcelona from its inauspicious Women's Champions League debut over a decade ago right up through its spectacular rise to be the world's top club. Putellas and Barcelona have a chance to prove it again on Saturday in Lisbon where they play Arsenal in a fifth straight final, aiming for a fourth European Cup. Arsenal whipped an inexperienced Barcelona side, which included a young Putellas, in its competition debut by the combined score of 7-0 over two games back in 2012. After joking to reporters that she didn't want to recall the lopsided scoreline in those back-to-back losses to Arsenal, Putellas reflected on the growth of her club since then. She recalled the tiny crowds her team used to draw compared to the Estadio de Jose Alvalade which will be a 50,000-seat sell-out on Saturday. 'From those first games in this competition, it was impossible to imagine everything that would come later,' Putellas said on Friday. 'I am privileged to have been along for this journey. And it continues with the final. 'It is anecdote that this all started with the first game against Arsenal and we will now play them tomorrow." The final will be Barcelona's 100th game in the Women's Champions League. First star of Spain women's soccer Putellas, 31, has done more than any player to put Barcelona at the pinnacle of women's soccer. She was its best player when it won its first Champions League in 2021 and helped put women's soccer in Spain on the global map when she won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards. Her emergence as a star coincided with the pronounced slump of Barcelona's men following the departure of Lionel Messi. It is also hard to imagine that Spain would have won the 2023 World Cup without the boost Putellas gave the sport. And when Spain was embroiled in crisis after its then soccer federation president Luis Rubiales kissed a player without consent during the World Cup awards ceremony, it was Putellas who led the player revolt that prompted his downfall. Back to her best Putellas won the won the Ballon d'Or in 2021 and 2022 because of her goal-scoring and leadership from Barcelona's midfield. Then serious leg injuries put her star status in doubt for Barcelona and Spain. She was sidelined for months and, when she returned to the field, she was reported to be considering a move from Barcelona due to her limited playing time. But last May she signed a two-year contract extension. Those injuries and stiff competition from a packed Barcelona midfield that also features reigning Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmatí meant that Putellas played only the final minutes of the last two Champions League finals as a late substitute. But she is back at her best this season and has recovered her starting spot. So she is set to start against Arsenal. 'When you keep getting injured, you lose your playing rhythm,' Putellas said. 'This year I stayed healthy and I put in the work to feel good all season and play at my best.' As for her motivation to keep winning? 'You always want to focus on the next objective, forgetting what you have achieved,' she said. 'Our next objective is tomorrow's final and we will give it our all to achieve it.' ___ AP soccer: in this topic
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Putellas recalls Barcelona's humble start to Women's Champions League boss
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Alexia Putellas has been with Barcelona from its inauspicious Women's Champions League debut over a decade ago right up through its spectacular rise to be the world's top club. Putellas and Barcelona have a chance to prove it again on Saturday in Lisbon where they play Arsenal in a fifth straight final, aiming for a fourth European Cup. Arsenal whipped an inexperienced Barcelona side, which included a young Putellas, in its competition debut by the combined score of 7-0 over two games back in 2012. After joking to reporters that she didn't want to recall the lopsided scoreline in those back-to-back losses to Arsenal, Putellas reflected on the growth of her club since then. She recalled the tiny crowds her team used to draw compared to the Estadio de Jose Alvalade which will be a 50,000-seat sell-out on Saturday. 'From those first games in this competition, it was impossible to imagine everything that would come later,' Putellas said on Friday. 'I am privileged to have been along for this journey. And it continues with the final. 'It is anecdote that this all started with the first game against Arsenal and we will now play them tomorrow." The final will be Barcelona's 100th game in the Women's Champions League. First star of Spain women's soccer Putellas, 31, has done more than any player to put Barcelona at the pinnacle of women's soccer. She was its best player when it won its first Champions League in 2021 and helped put women's soccer in Spain on the global map when she won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards. Her emergence as a star coincided with the pronounced slump of Barcelona's men following the departure of Lionel Messi. It is also hard to imagine that Spain would have won the 2023 World Cup without the boost Putellas gave the sport. And when Spain was embroiled in crisis after its then soccer federation president Luis Rubiales kissed a player without consent during the World Cup awards ceremony, it was Putellas who led the player revolt that prompted his downfall. Back to her best Putellas won the won the Ballon d'Or in 2021 and 2022 because of her goal-scoring and leadership from Barcelona's midfield. Then serious leg injuries put her star status in doubt for Barcelona and Spain. She was sidelined for months and, when she returned to the field, she was reported to be considering a move from Barcelona due to her limited playing time. But last May she signed a two-year contract extension. Those injuries and stiff competition from a packed Barcelona midfield that also features reigning Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmatí meant that Putellas played only the final minutes of the last two Champions League finals as a late substitute. But she is back at her best this season and has recovered her starting spot. So she is set to start against Arsenal. 'When you keep getting injured, you lose your playing rhythm,' Putellas said. 'This year I stayed healthy and I put in the work to feel good all season and play at my best.' As for her motivation to keep winning? 'You always want to focus on the next objective, forgetting what you have achieved,' she said. 'Our next objective is tomorrow's final and we will give it our all to achieve it.' ___ AP soccer: Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press
San Francisco Chronicle
23-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Putellas recalls Barcelona's humble start to Women's Champions League boss
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Alexia Putellas has been with Barcelona from its inauspicious Women's Champions League debut over a decade ago right up through its spectacular rise to be the world's top club. Putellas and Barcelona have a chance to prove it again on Saturday in Lisbon where they play Arsenal in a fifth straight final, aiming for a fourth European Cup. Arsenal whipped an inexperienced Barcelona side, which included a young Putellas, in its competition debut by the combined score of 7-0 over two games back in 2012. After joking to reporters that she didn't want to recall the lopsided scoreline in those back-to-back losses to Arsenal, Putellas reflected on the growth of her club since then. She recalled the tiny crowds her team used to draw compared to the Estadio de Jose Alvalade which will be a 50,000-seat sell-out on Saturday. 'From those first games in this competition, it was impossible to imagine everything that would come later,' Putellas said on Friday. 'I am privileged to have been along for this journey. And it continues with the final. 'It is anecdote that this all started with the first game against Arsenal and we will now play them tomorrow." The final will be Barcelona's 100th game in the Women's Champions League. Putellas, 31, has done more than any player to put Barcelona at the pinnacle of women's soccer. She was its best player when it won its first Champions League in 2021 and helped put women's soccer in Spain on the global map when she won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards. Her emergence as a star coincided with the pronounced slump of Barcelona's men following the departure of Lionel Messi. It is also hard to imagine that Spain would have won the 2023 World Cup without the boost Putellas gave the sport. And when Spain was embroiled in crisis after its then soccer federation president Luis Rubiales kissed a player without consent during the World Cup awards ceremony, it was Putellas who led the player revolt that prompted his downfall. Back to her best Putellas won the won the Ballon d'Or in 2021 and 2022 because of her goal-scoring and leadership from Barcelona's midfield. Then serious leg injuries put her star status in doubt for Barcelona and Spain. She was sidelined for months and, when she returned to the field, she was reported to be considering a move from Barcelona due to her limited playing time. But last May she signed a two-year contract extension. Those injuries and stiff competition from a packed Barcelona midfield that also features reigning Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmatí meant that Putellas played only the final minutes of the last two Champions League finals as a late substitute. But she is back at her best this season and has recovered her starting spot. So she is set to start against Arsenal. 'When you keep getting injured, you lose your playing rhythm,' Putellas said. 'This year I stayed healthy and I put in the work to feel good all season and play at my best.' 'You always want to focus on the next objective, forgetting what you have achieved,' she said. 'Our next objective is tomorrow's final and we will give it our all to achieve it.' ___
