Montse Tomé: "We are very lucky to have so much talent"
Montse Tomé appeared at a press conference an hour after announcing the squad for the upcoming UEFA Women's Nations League matches against Italy in Pasarón (Pontevedra) on 1 December and Sweden in La Rosaleda (Málaga) on 5 December.
The coach stressed that they go into these matches "with the utmost ambition" and that the team has "a lot of motivation" to qualify.
@montse_tome: "Afrontamos estos dos partidos con la máxima ambición".
— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) November 21, 2023
"Tenemos puesta muchísima energía para clasificarnos"#UWNL I #JugarLucharYGanar pic.twitter.com/2kAfKlYUms
She was full of praise for the number of players she can call up, stressing that even those who have not made the squad have a lot of quality: "We are very lucky to have the talent we have.
@montse_tome: "Tenemos muchísima suerte de contar con el talento con el que contamos".#UWNL I #JugarLucharYGanar pic.twitter.com/6KltpRyuc6
— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) November 21, 2023
Among the 25 player squad, she explained that Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes "are special”, but stressed that after calling up a group of 25 player the coaching team will see them all in action decide which players will make the final squad of 23: "We have called up 25 players and from Monday onwards we will evaluate them".
@montse_tome: "El de Alexia e Irene son dos casos especiales".
— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) November 21, 2023
"Hemos convocado a 25 futbolistas y a partir de lunes, valoraremos"#UWNL I #JugarLucharYGanar pic.twitter.com/5k7k0tpBIx
Finally, she explained that despite their comfortable position in the group, she ruled out using the game as a training match: "We're approaching the Italy game as if it were our last". And the coach is clear that a win would serve to secure qualification: "We know that if we manage to beat Italy we can reach the final 4 and that it’s one more step towards getting through to the Olympic Games".
@montse_tome: "Afrontamos el partido de Italia como si fuera el último".#UWNL I #JugarLucharYGanar pic.twitter.com/LFzHpxpuLb
— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) November 21, 2023