After the storm, calm usually comes. But in the case of the Spanish women’s team, the storm has been of such dimensions that it is impossible for harmony to reign. Seven days, or 31, that have caused a unprecedented schism in the history of the RFEF and, after which, it is time to step back onto the grass and return to what should be the center of attention: football. The Spanish team, after a month in which sports has taken a backseat, today faces the first step against Sweden to compete in the Olympic Games for the first time. After a grotesque week, the footballers will wear the world champion star for the first time, no less than against the best team in the world according to the FIFA ranking.
The preview of the match was marked by Montse Tomé’s future as a coach, by the news of her departure after these two matches due to the imposition of some players whom she angered and disappointed, from whom she distanced herself irreversibly. «We have never asked to add or remove coaches; We have only transferred to whom appropriate locker room concepts of feeling comfortable,” said Alexia Putellas.
And he insisted later, when he was reminded of the wave of layoffs unleashed in the Federation after the players’ threats: “We do not add or remove anything, we simply denounce. “We demand that in the RFEF, which belongs to all Spaniards, there be zero tolerance for people who have hidden, applauded or incited abuse.” But he clarified that “who chooses the changes is the Federation; “We have no power to fire or appoint anyone.”
Tomé avoided commenting on whether he feels he has guarantees to remain in office beyond the match against Switzerland. “I have confidence in the work, I want this to be solved and to work,” he simply responded. Regarding the opinion that his person deserves among the soccer players, aggravated after he summoned the majority of them against his will, he appeared to be outside of all this. «I don’t feel that the players don’t love me“I haven’t heard it from them,” he said.
Regarding last Monday’s squad list, the difference in criteria between the soccer players and the coach contrasts. Irene Paredes expressed herself forcefully: «We did not want to come, we had decided that it was not the time. We were forced to come. We came angry». Putellas also expressed himself along those lines: «We came angry because we were not selectable. “We did it to avoid sanctions.”
However, Tomé hid behind a “communication failure” and maintained that his intention was always “to protect the players, help them, be with them.” In the case of his response last Monday about his conversations with those summoned, denied by the majority of them, it was “a failure of interpretation.” «I said yes because I have spoken with them. Not with all of them. “No one asked me if I had spoken to everyone,” he argued.
The two Barcelona players valued last Tuesday’s meeting between the locker room, RFEF and CSD. To reach this agreement, which they trust will represent a turning point, Putellas explained the main complaint on the part of the soccer players towards the Federation: “We had been demanding that they listen to us for quite some time because we were detecting that for many decades there has been a systematic discrimination with the feminine». Subsequently, she was confident that “the agreements will make women’s football, women’s sports and society much better.”
Despite this, the Barcelona headquarters are not convinced after everything that has happened. «Until now we had felt alone, all that must be corrected. The light at the end of the tunnel is not yet seen. Now we have the speaker, but we have a lot of people behind us. We want this to be a turning point and eradicate all types of situations like those that have happened,” she concluded.
While the debutant coach appeared, it was learned that four RFEF employees have been summoned to testify as witnesses in the complaint of coercion by Jenni Hermoso: Rubén Rivera, marketing director; Patricia Pérez, press officer of the women’s team; Miguel García Caba, director of integrity; and Albert Luque, director of the men’s team.
Although it may not seem like it, this afternoon the Spanish team faces a very difficult challenge. The first day of the Nations League pits the two best women’s national teams according to the FIFA ranking. The only glimpse of football in the world champion’s surroundings, a month after her feat in Australia, took place in Montse Tomé’s last response. The coach assured that she wants to “talk about football.” Regarding the Swedish team, she analyzed that it is “a strong team, even with the loss of Rolfo, physical, with a pressing defensive structure and with alternatives in attack, especially in transition.” This afternoon sports, for the first time in too long, will be the protagonist.
2023-09-21 19:49:15
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