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Aitana: ‘We want to continue dominating, defend our title and prove that we are still the team to beat’.

The midfielder sat down at the press conference before England-Spain
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Tue, 25/02/2025 - 19:36

The double Ballon d'or winner took questions from journalists at the official pre-match press conference. Tomorrow, Bonmatí and her team-mates face England, as they did in the World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand, and they will do so at possibly the most legendary stadium in football: Wembley: ‘Playing at a legendary, historic stadium makes me very excited. I'm really looking forward to it, it's one of those games that you want to play in, that you enjoy, that you think about in the run up to the match. I'm one of those people that cherishes these moments, they are the ones that motivate me, because the name is enough to give you butterflies’.

Aitana acknowledged that she is in good form: ‘I´m in optimal condition, I'm feeling very well, to be honest. If I look at the minutes I've played this season compared to others, it's similar. I've had a few seasons in a row without much rest but I'm feeling very good. I'm a professional and I try to be available whenever I'm needed’.

The midfielder acknowledged that Spain are ‘a lively team, we like the ball but we have to watch out for transitions and them getting in behind’. Spain are the team to beat at the moment, as Spain’s star acknowledged: ‘All our rivals are growing a lot, they know us better and better, they prepare more for us and we often find low blocks that are very difficult to breakdown’ but Montse Tomé's team have not lost their essence, their hallmark: ‘We have a unique style and that is not going to change, we are a team that wants to play with the ball and have possession as much as possible. Over the years we have improved a lot physically, we have more and more players who can help us attack the backline in the final third of the pitch. We have a more versatile team’.

Tomorrow's game is a clash between the World Champions and the European Champions, it will no doubt be a difficult and very evenly matched encounter, as the FC Barcelona player commented: ‘At the end of the day it's a game against England, it could be one of the best games in women's football at Wembley, I see it being a very even game, there is no clear favourite. They won the Euros, we won the World Cup. They will try to attack us at the back and we have to correct those mistakes. 

England are really looking forward to taking on the Spanish national team and both Aitana and her team know it: ‘I'm aware of the big game tomorrow and the desire England will have to beat us. Losing a World Cup final is painful, especially after the tough road to get there. I would also like revenge if I were them, but for us it is also an opportunity to continue leading, defending our title and proving that we are the team to beat. This season we have the Nations League and the European Championships and we want to continue being a championship winning team’. 

And to be one of those, there is one thing Spain must not lose: ‘We are as ambitious as ever. As a team we have been united on the pitch, style-wise, without dropping our level. We've been able to stay together through those tough moments and grow in the face of adversity. This team had no experience in tournaments of this type, and we went to a World Cup and went on to win it. The Nations League came around and we won it too... not at the Olympics, you can't be there all the time. We want to improve. We know where we need to be for the European Championships, we put in the hard work at our clubs on a day-to-day basis to be a competitive team. We are on the right path and we continue to grow’.

Aitana and the rest of the internationals face an emotional and intense match tomorrow, a motivating and challenging duel for top spot in Group A3 in this UEFA Women's Nations League group stage. 

Listen again to the press conference with Aitana Bonmatí and Montse Tomé

 

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