Barça women's team coach Lluís Cortés: "We have the squad we wanted"

Lluís Cortés has a big challenge ahead of him. After taking charge of Barcelona's women's team midway through last season -- when Fran Sanchez was sacked -- his team did well, reaching the Champions League final. They missed out on the La Liga title, though, and he's now tasked with the responsibility of bringing the league crown back to the club after four years without it. 

How do Barça go into the new season? Good wins and performances in preseason...

The sensations all preseason have been good. There have been better games and worse games, but that's what preseason is for: trying things. The sensations, in general, have been good, as have the results. We're happy, we're working well and we're ready for everything to get started. 

The team's strengthened. Is this Barça best ever squad?

For me, yes, because it's the one I have. It's the squad we wanted and the one we asked for. The club made a huge effort to put this squad together, the singings are the ones we wanted and I think we've been successful in that sense. We've also been able to promote some players from the youth teams, which is good because it gives meaning to the way we play and the work we're doing. The feeling is we have a complete squad with a lot of competition. 

What do players like Hansen, Oshoala and Jenni Hermoso bring?

They're different players to what we had. Graham is great one on one. Oshoala, we all saw at the end of last season: she has pace and power which is tough to find in any player nationally. And Jenni is a player that showed her quality when she was here and while she's been away has done the same, scoring lots of goals and linking play well. They're three players that will serve us very well because they're different to what we had. 

Winning La Liga

Considering all that, will you win La Liga this season?

We're going to try. I don't know if we will win it or not, but I'm here to try. If you look at last season, Atletico won 28 games. It's something we didn't predict, but it can happen. And if a team win 28 games (out of 30), it makes things difficult. But of course we will give our all. We will try not to make the same mistakes as we have done in recent years. 

How do you correct those mistakes?

The first thing is to recognise that these mistakes exist and being self-critical helps us. I think the players are aware of what went wrong last season and in preseason we've worked on that. Because it's not just losing against Huelva. That result is a consequence of many things. You have to look at why. Because you lose against Huelva, against Granadilla or you draw with Espanyol. When you find the reason for that, you can work on it. Seeing how we've worked in preseason, I think it's a good sign because we've taken every game like a Champions League final. 

Do you feel more pressure than ever to win La Liga?

More than pressure, we have a responsibility, but no one said playing -- or in my case coaching -- for Barça was easy. I think this club lives with that responsibility: not just playing well, but you try and win transmitting values and a certain style. That's what it means to be at Barça. Maybe there are players that aren't ready. Maybe there are coaches that aren't ready. At the end of the day, more than pressure, that's what you have when performing a life saving operation, it's responsibility. I think that all of us who like football desire that responsibility.

Fans and the media will demand results...

Obviously they will demand results. That's why I say if we achieve individual and team objectives, the results will come.   

Champions League finalists last year, but Juventus is a tough draw for the first round this season...

Juve are a good rival and I think in terms of the interest it's positive because it is an attractive fixture for everyone. But of the teams that weren't seeded, along with Arsenal, they're one of the teams we would have liked to have avoided. We know they will be tough to beat, but we have a chance to get through the tie. We have to focus on ourselves, play well and know how to manage the two legs. 

Real Madrid's arrival 

The season kicks off against Tacon, soon to be Real Madrid... 

It will be a really good first game, also playing at the incredible new Johan Cruyff stadium. It won't be easy, though. It's true they've just been promoted but they've strengthened well, with interesting signings and world-class players. So it will be a difficult game, but attractive at the same time. I think all the teams are strengthening well in La Liga and the games in the top flight are getting more attractive all the time. 

What will Real Madrid bring to the women's game?

It's going to help a lot, above all in terms of investment. Madrid are capable of investing an amount of money that many teams, as much as they would like to, can't. That will bring top players to the league and will increase the level. I think it will be interesting for everyone. 

Many complain that their arrival has come late and by buying out another team... 

Maybe but we can't say anything. There's also empathy. If we were in their place, what would we do? I don't no, maybe we would have done the same, maybe we wouldn't. If Tacon and Madrid are happy with it all, we accept that. And accept it graciously because I think it will lift the level of the league and that's good for everyone. 

Do you think this new rivalry will help with interest?

I hope it catches people's attention and brings them to the stadium. We have to be really happy with anything that is positive for the women's game. If Madrid have a competitive team, perfect. If that brings people to games and attracts them to the sport, perfect. 

Beyond Madrid, Atletico are still the team to beat?

I think Atletico will keep on competing as they have done in recent years, for sure. They're a team that always have a competitive squad and a good coach. We're talking about a competitive team, the current champions, so they will be the team to beat.