Recovering an old feeling and having it motivate you like it did on the first day is no easy task. Rather, it is extremely difficult. However, for Alexia Putellas, football has come back with a bang to reach the depths of her heart once again.
The Catalan player acknowledges in an exclusive chat with the official media of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, that "it's always exciting to feel that little bit of excitement when it's time to compete and to start again" and it's no wonder. Last Friday, in Spain's match against Belgium in Leuven, Alexia returned to Montse Tomé's starting eleven more than five months after her last start in red on 31 October 2023 against Switzerland after overcoming a serious left knee injury.
The best version of the '11' is back for the national team, as Montse Tomé acknowledged in the post-match press conference last Friday in Belgium: "Alexia contributed to the team's success and we saw her enjoying herself on the pitch and being herself," said the coach with a smile on her face. The player is grateful for these words and recognises that "she, the staff and the people who have been by my side during the injury know how hard I have worked. I always try to do my best to achieve my goals".
Looking back, she still struggles to put into words her feelings on winning the World Cup at Sydney's Stadium Australia on 20 August: "It's very hard to find words that come close to describing that feeling. Then, on 28 February 2024, came the Women's Nations League at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, a tournament in which Alexia played an important part despite not being able to enjoy it from the pitch: "We are confident that we are achieving the objectives we are setting ourselves as a team.
Two new goals are on the horizon for the Spanish national team: the European Championships in 2025, for which Spain topsits qualifying group, and the Olympic Games in Paris next summer. Alexia is clear about the key to success: "As long as we continue with the same demands we put on ourselves and self-reflection, there’s no limit to our success".
One of the pillars of this national team is, according to one of its captains, the "winning mentality" that prevails in the group. In addition, the perfect mix of experience and youth brings infinite variations to a team that cannot get enough of winning: "We have a perfect mix, what matters is the team and what we all want is to win".
Despite only being in her early thirties, Alexia takes on the role of veteran for many reasons, such as being the player who has played the most games in the history of the national team (114). That is why her role with the younger players is fundamental to their rapid integration into the team: "I love football and what I speak to them about is all football. They are incredible players with a lot of talent. I try to help them in their adaptation process and help them to be happy on the pitch".
The FC Barcelona player admits that the road she has travelled before winning titles is becoming more and more important to her: "Now I enjoy the intangible moments and the experiences along the way much more, I want to make the most of every moment, give the best of myself and prolong this beautiful moment".
Alexia and the rest of her teammates are role models for many generations of boys, girls, men and women who see themselves reflected in them and in their way of conquering once inconceivable objectives: "If someone sees you as an inspiration it is because of how you are, so I try to be myself, to help and to be clear about the passion that drives me. We are experiencing something we always dreamed of living".