Irene Paredes: “We have to be the Spain that got us this far.”

Just over 24 hours before the decisive match against Germany to defend their title, Irene Paredes answered questions from journalists at the press room of the Metropolitano Stadium.

Aitana’s absence: “The squad is doing well. Absences like Aitana’s can unsettle you because no one likes seeing a teammate hurt or injured. But we’ll push forward—we have plenty of players, and everyone is capable of contributing. Regarding the match against Germany, the first half was tough. But it’s Germany, it’s a final, and they play very well. They’re a team that keeps improving. Later on, we found our rhythm a bit late. We knew how to endure, and tomorrow everything will be decided.”

The crucial save: “It’s a final against a very strong team. If we think they won’t have chances, we’re mistaken. The other day I made a save off the line, but overall, the defense did very well. It’s a collective effort.”

Playing at the Metropolitano: “The stadium will be nearly full, so I want to thank everyone coming tomorrow. They help us, and tomorrow they need to get behind us.”

Message to the squad before the match: “I haven’t thought about exactly what I’ll say in the dressing room yet, but I know we’re ready for tomorrow. The other day was tougher, but we need to be the Spain we’ve always been: connecting well, trusting our players, playing at a high tempo, attacking, and defending. I like to remind everyone that, despite all the hype and being a final here, it’s still a football match. That’s what we’ve all been doing for a long time.”

Possession: “It’s normal for possession to drop in a final. We like to dominate the ball and feel comfortable that way, but if we didn’t have more the other day, it was because they earned it. As for the tactical adjustments we’ll make, I’m not going to reveal them. But I fully trust that we’ll do everything we’ve been told even better.”

Sonia Bermúdez on the coach: “With the final tomorrow, I’m not going to evaluate a coach who has already proven herself. For me, everything is positive. She’s surrounded herself with a very capable team that works hard.”

Mental strength: “Experience and external support give it to you. We’re at a point where, in terms of experience, we’ve all been in tough situations on the pitch and have learned to deal with them. The staff gives us different options to adapt as best as we can. We have many tools to face whatever comes our way.”

On Germany: “Nothing surprised me. They’re a team we respect a lot. We know the tempo they like to play at. Each of us had tough individual duels, and we knew how to endure. We also had good moments to build on for tomorrow. They have players who defend well and counterattack effectively. They clearly knew how to win the ball and launch very fast players on the wings. The last match will help us grow and play better tomorrow.”