FOOTBALL4GOOD MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

I have the amazing fortune to be captain of Atlético and the national team. The more united we are, the better the bond, the clearer the goal and the easier it is to reach that point. Making 23 players happy is not easy, especially when some are playing more than others. ARE YOU ABLE TO SEPARATE YOURSELF AS THE PLAYER ON THE PITCH FROM THE PER- SON AWAY FROM IT? I believe that you are in life as you are in sport. The way in which you train, you compete, how you organise yourself to achieve your goals – if you are organised, if you are competitive, if you are very rigorous with your workouts, how you take care of yourself – that will translate to life away from football. I’ve been fortunate that my parents have taught me to remain constant, to keep a good work ethic and not to relax. That sense of sacrifice and humbleness is what has made me get to where I am. I have a very positive mentality. I’ve never wanted to give up what has been a fundamental part of my attitude on the pitch. In complicated moments this translates into looking at one an- other and saying: “come on, we can do it.” YOU’VE BEEN DESCRIBED AS A ‘LEADER’, ‘CREATOR’, AND ‘SERIAL WINNER’, BUT HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? As a player I really like the ball, I’m always go- ing to look for it, I love the last pass. But I like it even more if I can give the goal to another teammate. I don’t have that innate obsession to score the goal. If there is a player there and I can pass the ball to her, giving her confi- dence, I will always try. I like helping people. Sometimes I care too much about people and they even tell me that I care too much. But for me it is normal, if someone in your environment is not comfort- able, it is natural to me to want to help that person. For me, sacrifice and humbleness come before everything else. Things have happened to me so quickly. At 20 I became captain. Being able to process things quickly has greatly influenced the way I face challenges and the role I’ve taken as leader. I want to motivate those around me. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE THE FIRST WOM- AN TO RECEIVE A PLAQUE AT ATLÉTICO’S “I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE IN LIFE AS YOU ARE IN SPORT. THE WAY INWHICH YOU TRAIN, YOU COMPETE, HOW YOU ORGANISE YOURSELF TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS - THAT WILL TRANSLATE TO LIFE AWAY FROM FOOTBALL.” PASEO DE LEYENDAS (LEGENDS’ WALKWAY)? For me! Imagine. I used to go to the Vicente Calderón when I was little to see Fernando Torres, to see Gabi, with my father telling me stories about Paulo Futre, Kiko Narváez. And then suddenly they make a plaque with my name, next to the idols that I’ve followed my whole life, from my own club. It’s incredible. YOU ALREADY HAVE SO MANY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS. WHICH ONES STAND OUT IN YOUR MEMORY? The first title we won was special. The Queen’s Cup and the first league title we won was very important. But on an emotional level, playing in the Calderón, going out to the field and looking at the seats where I sat with my family watching the players, was amazing. Never did I think I’d see those seats from that point of view. YOU’VE STUDIED PHYSIOTHERAPY, NUTRITION, SPORTS MANAGEMENT AND, AT ONE POINT, SPORTS JOURNALISM – ALL WHILE PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY. WHAT DROVE YOU TO PURSUE EDUCATION? I didn’t want to stop studying because of playing, I wanted to follow my curiosities and motivations to have a broader vision of the sport and the world of football. IS THERE TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON PLAYERS TO DEDICATE TIME ONLY TO FOOTBALL? It depends on how you are and how you deal with it [pressure]. In general, I haven’t felt that pressure. I’ve had opportunities to grow on and off the field. The club have given me opportu- nities to further my academic education and to be able to do things beyond sport. There are players who don’t have that luck or the ease of being able to pursue education in the first place. I think that studying serves as an escape route out of the pressure generated by football. To interact with other people and get out of that routine of constant sacrifice, seeing other types of life and the world. It’s been only positive for me. IS THERE MORE PRESSURE IN THE WORLD OF MEN’S FOOTBALL? When I see harsh criticism towards players, I think we, the fans, can forget that first and foremost they are people. Comments hurt. There is huge pressure when you represent a country or a team that means a lot to fans. There are people who barely make ends meet but still spend their hard-earned money to see their team. To them, winning is what fills them with joy. That can isolate players because they lead such different lives to most people – which isn’t the case with women’s football. While growth is great, I hope it doesn’t create a bubble, isolat- ing us and losing the game’s current values of humbleness, sacrifice and dedication forged by players of previous generations. OVER YOUR CAREER HOW HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE WORLD OF FOOT- BALL EVOLVED? Professionalisation brings upcoming gener- ations more opportunities to play football and study, without worrying about working. Women’s football is now on the lips of many people. We have to make sure this isn’t a trend but here to stay. ARE WE ARE LIVING THROUGH A CRUCIAL MOMENT IN THE WOMEN’S GAME? We are in a historic moment because of the im- pact that women’s football is having worldwide and how it’s growing in Spain. The signing of the collective agreement now means all the first and second division players are eligible [for a minimum annual salary]. It’s a positive sign that women’s football is here to stay and that must be encouraged: to give people the option to see it, to follow it. That gives us, as players, a much bigger re- sponsibility. It is up to us to set an example for children to follow; we have to show that we re- spect the rules, that we respect those around us, that we are humble, close, and real. This is 10 11 FOOTBALL4GOODMAGAZINE | MARCH2020 IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW