More than 1,100 kilometers separate Sant Joan Despí from Marlow, two cities apparently without connection but that this Wednesday seemed twinned. Alexia Putellas captured the attention at the press conferences of the Spanish team and also of Barça. Long faces among the players at the Bisham Abbey facilities, the nerve center of the red team at the European Championship in England, and the worried face of Joan Laporta during the presentation of Franck Kessie.
The Blaugrana president began the appearance by dedicating a few words to the women's captain. It's unusual for a female footballer's name to sneak into a men's team event, but the seriousness of the injury was impossible to ignore for all that Alexia represents. Even coach Xavi Hernández encouraged "the best player in the world" through the networks. "She has the full support of the club, we are here to help her and we will encourage her in whatever she needs," said Laporta.
He publicly assumed with "sadness" the "fatality" that is the rupture in the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee, a mishap that requires a longer recovery time in women that can reach 9-12 months. It is a headache in women's football today, as this type of mishap proliferates since competition has increased (the female anatomy and the menstrual cycle are the main causes).
In this recently finished season, the Blaugrana Bruna Vilamala, Jana Fernández and Cata Coll have also suffered torn ligaments; the first in a match with the U-23 team. At Barça there is some discomfort due to the physical problems that their players accumulate in the concentrations of the national team, since it is not the first time that they have returned from Las Rozas injured, although none in the senior team had reached such seriousness.
Like most of the Catalan club's players, Alexia has played practically everything with Jorge Vilda this season. He has participated in all thirteen games: eleven as a starter and six of them playing the ninety minutes. Taking into account that the matches were friendly or scandalous goals in the qualifying phase of the European Championship, the critical voices for his lack of rest have been constant.
The unfortunate news was a severe setback for Alexia and also for her teammates, pending the doctors' diagnosis throughout the day after the soccer player from Mollet felt a crack during training. At all times she was surrounded by her companions. She will now return that love by hanging out with the team until the tournament debut next Friday against Finland in Milton Keynes.
"She is a leader, a captain. She is still here with us to continue adding. She can give us solutions even from outside," Mariona Caldentey highlighted at a press conference. Her teammate at Barça pointed out that "you can't hide how important Alexia is for the national team, for our club and for Spanish women's football." "Now it's his turn to live through a few tough months. He's a sensible loss but these things happen, it's football. The other players will have to take a step forward and assume greater responsibility".
Mariona is one of the alternatives that Vila is studying to rebuild the midfield, and more especially after the Spanish coach has called a striker (Amaiur Sarriegi, from Real Sociedad) to cover Alexia's loss, the third during the concentration (Jenni Hermoso and Salma Paralluelo). The other two midfielders in the eleven are untouchable: Aitana Bonmatí and Patri Guijarro.
The latter becomes captain due to the absence of Alexia. "We are going to be very close to her to encourage her and give her strength, without a doubt she will come back strong as she is. But now she is pushing us. Among all of us we will try to make up for everything that she does, contributing an extra plus each one", expressed the Balearic.
In addition to Mariona, the also Blaugrana Claudia Pina, Irene Guerrero or Tere Abelleira are the other alternatives in that position. Even Laia Aleixandri can enter as a midfielder and advance a few meters to Patri. "We have versatile players who know how to adapt to different situations. Not just one, but several. We will adapt to whatever comes," Guijarro concluded.
