It’s Monday. Training day. And she doesn’t rest. She is focused. Without stopping, she tidies up the lawn and chats with her companions. Alexia Putellas returns to defend FC Barcelona’s title in the UEFA Women’s Champions League against Benfica (today, 9:00 p.m. on DAZN). Now, with a new position, at the tip of the spear as he adapts to regain his maximum level. The same one that he believed he could no longer save after tearing his cruciate ligament in the summer of 2022. “No way,” he thought at the time. “Find someone else to win the Champions League. “I have broken,” he wrote to his coach Jonatan Giráldez.
Barça’s team won the Champions League for the first time in 2021. And then-captain Vicky Losada did honors with the trophy. After losing the 2022 final to Lyon, his face stained with mascara, Putellas played the final minutes of last year’s final. And he left the bench to raise the trophy to the sky: it was a sign of resilience, a promise, a promise, I will return.
In this Champions League final he celebrated his comeback after a nine-month injury. Only nine minutes left in the entire European tournament, a thorn in the side. “Alexia is Alexia. I had no doubt that he would return to a high level. Knowing her, it meant getting rid of the thorn, playing again and feeling like a soccer player. “These injuries are very complicated, but our teammates are there for whatever you need,” said Mapi León before the game against Benfica.
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The tear in his knee haunted him for a year. The Mollet del Vallès player collapsed during training with the national team. She was in her prime and was afraid that she would never be the same again, that she would forget the throne and the crown. Aside from the nickname: The Queen. But Alexia’s fears turned into ambition and work. And although everything seemed to be falling apart at Barça with the loss of Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, along with Patri Guijarro, who occupied more advanced areas, and Keira Walsh soon made up for his absence in midfield.
Until he came back. After nine months without a place. And in the summer she managed to win the World Cup with her teammates. With the start of the Barcelona season, Giráldez had a problem. Happy problem: integrating Alexia into the team. But there was overbooking in the middle zone. With Mariona Caldentey and Claudia Pina playing the power and Aitana, Patri and Walsh streaming through the middle, the coach had to look for a new position for the two-time Ballon d’Or winner. He found a tailor-made space for her that accommodated her new needs and needs Virtues: Playing like a false 9 and taking advantage of her scoring opportunities: Before collapsing, she was the 2021-2022 season with 34 goals and 21 assists in 43 games best scorer on the team. And striker was a natural position in the squad for Asisat Oshoala. “We already have a very high level of play with Aitana, Patri or Keira and players who give us depth. “Alexia is the player who scored the most goals before the injury. We had to take advantage of that sense of smell and try to create a context for her to be near the penalty area,” Jonatan explained.
Although he’s still adjusting. “I will do my utmost to contribute to the team, no matter what position,” said Putellas on his league debut. And what seemed like an experiment that caused concern among the culés has become a habit. He combines this false 9 with his natural position as a center back in some games.
For Alexia it is a challenge: “I’m learning, it’s an obvious change and I have a year off due to the injury. I get a lot of video and individual sessions. “I’ve already mastered the inside position, so learning a new position will make me even better.”
After the injury, the Barça player is trying to regain the lost explosiveness. Playing up front allows you to minimize routes and focus on creating chances. Although she loses more balls than in previous seasons, dribbles less and appears uncomfortable at times, she touches the ball more often in the opponent’s area. She doesn’t give up her role as captain: she organizes the team and chats with Jonatan after the games, even though she scored goals. Little by little he regains his game and his offensive virtues come to the fore. At the start of League F, she surpassed the 400-game mark and broke Barça’s goalscoring record: with 182 goals, she is the top scorer in the club’s history.
The red date for returning to his peak level is December, a year and a half after his injury. There is currently no lack of motivation in the dressing room for the game against Benfica, admits Mapi: “The team is very eager and hungry for the competition.” We always want to be the best and we work for that. After the victory, the ambition is greater.” Also for Alexia. Now she is ready to fight for her throne and her crown. He can play in the Champions League again and this thorn will disappear without leaving a scar. Just the one on his left knee. This Champions League is his personal revenge.
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