The first title of the year is at stake in Butarque (Leganés) and Barça, current champion, wants to start 2024 with a new trophy for its showcases. With few hours of sleep after part of the team traveled to London for The Best awards gala, the Blaugrana expedition traveled to Madrid yesterday with two good news: Cata Coll and Marta Torrejón received medical discharge and joined the call of 22 footballers. Giráldez has also taken Dragoni, Vicky López, Martina and Lucía Corrales, from the reserve team.
“On a motivational level, winning would help us a lot to face the important part of the season that is coming now,” Giráldez acknowledged. The Blaugrana coach expects some tactical change from Alberto Toril with respect to the 5-0 win against the white team in the League match in November in Montjuïc: “The role of some players has changed and that can affect, above all, to its offensive phase. We are prepared for there to be some small variation in the lineup or in the type of pressure and so that the rival does not surprise us,” the Blaugrana coach assured in the preview.
The classic will be the reissue of last year's Super Cup semi-final. On that occasion the score was tied and marked by the expulsion of Irene Paredes in the 59th minute. Already in extra time, Mariona put Barça ahead with a penalty and Salma Paralluelo sealed Barça's pass to the final with the 3-1 score in the last minute. “It was a difficult match, with one player less from match time. This year it is a team that has more experience,” warns Giráldez.
Barça is the most successful team in the competition and has lifted the title in 2020, 2022 and 2023. Despite arriving at the event with significant losses for the team such as Mapi León, Alexia Putellas or Fridolina Rolfö, Giráldez assures that it will arrive with the team in great shape: “In the last Cup match we were able to give a rest to the players who were accumulating a lot of minutes and the reserve team players are here to help.” Of course, the coach insisted on the importance of managing the minutes of the youngest players well: "When you are in the best club in the world you have to be patient and not give them more responsibility than they have to."
The Final Four is held entirely at the Butarque stadium, in Leganés (Madrid). A venue that was known only two weeks ago, once again opening up the controversy due to the short notice and foresight with which the Federation usually always announces the venues for the finals. “You have to plan it with more time. On a logistical and economic level, both for the club and for the fans, the sooner we know, the better.”
Finally, Giráldez spoke about the possibility that the team could be strengthened in this winter market: “There are few options to sign due to a financial fair play issue and the delicate situation of the club,” he confessed.
“Due to Mapi's injury, it would be a very good option to reinforce this position,” he acknowledged. “But Ingrid is doing very well as a center back, just like Martina and we also have Irene and more players,” he concluded.
