Jonatan Giraldez: Turin's memory is no longer present for us
The Barca Femeni coach looked forward to the Champions League final
"We have a good chance of winning the final". Jonatan Giráldez instilled optimism in FC Barcelona fans ahead of the final of the Women's Champions League 2023 final, the club's fourth in their history. The Barcelona coach explained that "the memory of Turin is no longer with us" and, after the disappointment of last season, his players face the match for the most prestigious continental title with "patience" and "calm"."
"The work we do does not go from final to final. We've played at the Camp Nou, at Stamford Bridge... All the experiences we've had since last season are important. We have more patience than other years. We have a good chance of winning the final. The memory of Turin, right now, is not present," said the Galician coach, "optimistic". "We have arrived very well. I'm happy with the process of preparing for the final. I hope to be even happier tomorrow, I'm really looking forward to the game," he reflected.
🎙️ Giráldez: "El record de Torí ara mateix no està present" pic.twitter.com/K8KKmN6DxF
— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) 2 de junio de 2023
Giráldez felt "we've had plenty of time to prepare for the final" against a Wolfsburg side whose main weapons will be "quick attacks, steals and set-pieces". "We will try to dominate the game and minimise their strengths," he analysed without revealing his plans to try and surprise their opponents. "I'm clear about the eleven. We have to be careful in training, but I've decided on the line-up," said the coach, who although he didn't want to give any clues, did admit that he is considering the possibility of putting Alexia Putellas in the false nine.
Alexia, at 100%
The captain, according to Jonatan, is 100%. "Like the rest of her team-mates, she is available to play whatever is needed. She has been training normally for many weeks and is ready to play 30, 60 or 90 minutes, whatever it takes," he said. "It was important to have all 27 players available. Some of them have been a little bit more limited, but they have all done a good job of recovery. I won't give any information of any kind, but there is good news about the players who were injured," he added of Barça's squad for the "exciting" game.
"We are very excited. When you have the chance to be a Barça coach or player, you know you have to compete for everything. The atmosphere right now is one of optimism. We can't wait to smell the grass," concluded Giráldez.
