The F League finally started, a week late due to the soccer players' strike and dogged by conflicts. In the middle of the tornado that hit Las Rozas on Friday, just 30 kilometers away, Barça 2023-24 began to roll against Madrid CFF. The Barça team was received by a stand with a surprising Blaugrana color, which was devoted to the footballers at their debut. A match in which the poor condition of the grass prevented us from seeing much football, but which Barça resolved (0-2) with goals from Graham Hansen and Oshoala.
Nobody wanted to talk after the game. There was no mixed zone or press conferences. Only Jonatan Giráldez spoke to the media on the worn-out grass after the game and was very critical of that circumstance: “For me it is basic. If you want to see a good show on television, you need adequate lighting and optimal conditions to play football well. “It is a professional league and we are not only talking about money, we are talking about many more things.” Giráldez also spoke of the conflict that the players have open with the Federation: “I respect it. "They are decisions that depend solely and exclusively on each player who makes the decision." “My focus is to pay attention to what depends on you, train well and do everything you can to play the best game possible,” he added, although he acknowledged that it is not being easy: “All the media noise is obviously affecting because “We are human beings, but we are professionals.”
From the stands, coach Montse Tomé watched the game, who went to Fuenlabrada along with Laura del Río, U-15 women's coach. They met Markel Zubizarreta, Barça women's sports director, in the box, with whom they exchanged some impressions. The Asturian arrived a few minutes before the match began, seeking to go unnoticed at a time when she is the focus of all eyes. Or almost all of them, because in the Fernando Torres stadium there was still someone who had not seen her on television: “Montse Tomé is here, she says she is the national team coach, shall I let her pass?” was heard over a walkie-talkie. The coach had been seen in the morning at Atlético-Athletic and declined to comment on the conflict or on the list that she must make for the two Nations League games against Sweden and Switzerland, for which she will not be able to count, if nothing changes , with 21 world champions, nor any of the twelve who missed the World Cup due to the conflict with the Federation.
At the Fernando Torres in Fuenlabrada the focus was on the terrible state of the grass. One more example of what these footballers are fighting for who demand that the F League be professional for more than just having this name. That their demands go beyond the minimum wage, that they demand decent infrastructure, not deteriorated fields.
In this context, the Blaugrana took to the field with a message of support for their teammate Fridolina Rolfö, convalescing from a recent knee operation. In the eleven, the brilliant debut of Ona Batlle with the Barça first team and also that Cata Coll, after the incredible World Cup she has starred in this summer, has earned the starting position in the FC Barcelona goal.
Otherwise, the football did not shine, but on a pitch like that and it being the first league match, Barça delivered. Caroline Graham Hansen scored the first Blaugrana goal of the season, a great back-heel goal. At the end, Oshoala sealed the game 0-2 after an inspired individual play by Ona Batlle, one of the best of the game. And a little more. Alexia turned 400 games for the Blaugrana and Esmee Brugts enjoyed her first minutes in the Barça shirt. Now, stop selections to write a new chapter of this endless story.
