The coach of the Spanish women’s football team unveiled a completely revamped group on Friday for the preparation of the 2023 World Cup without the 15 players having announced that they no longer wanted to wear the Roja jersey while he was in office.
None of the 15 internationals concerned appears in the list retained by Jorge Vilda to face Sweden on October 7, then the United States four days later, as part of the preparation matches for the 2023 World Cup, jointly organized by Australia and New Zealand.
“Wearing the Spain shirt is the greatest honor there is“, assured Vilda by revealing the 23 names. In open conflict with some of his players, the coach is supported by the Spanish Federation (RFEF).
This list does not include Barça players, Patri Pebble, Mapi Leon, Sandra Panos et Aitana Bonmatithose of Manchester United, Ona Batlle et Lucia Garcia and Manchester City, Leila Ouahabi et Laia Aleixandri.
The team executives Jennifer Beautiful et Irene Paredeswho were not among the 15 rebel players, but who gave their support to the movement, are also absent from the list.
Fifteen Spanish internationals announced last Thursday that they were giving up wearing the famous red jersey as long as Vilda was in office.
According to the Federation, the 15 players explained in an email that the conflict between them and Vilda affected “their emotional state” et “their health” of “important way“.
This decision was denounced by Jorge Vilda, but also by the Federation, which said that it does not allow “that the players question the situation of the national coach and the management“, this decision not entering “in their area of expertise“.
At the last gathering of the “Roja“, in September, the three executives Irene Paredes, Patri Guijarro and Jenni Hermoso had called a press conference and acknowledged a “general malaise“by questioning Vilda, in office since 2015.
The coach, who succeeded Ignacio Queredalanded under the pressure of players after a failed 2015 World Cup, had for his part declared to have been “hurt by the way it’s done“, claiming to be a person”who favors dialogue and who is always willing to talk“.
