“For this team it is worth traveling for 21 hours in a coach. Even puncture a wheel”, says Mariona. Next to her, Marta and Ester nod. Both are part of the famous coach number 14 that left Barcelona on Thursday to see the women's Barça lift the second Champions League in its history. Then they returned by road again with the aim of reaching Plaça Sant Jaume, which, as in the great celebrations of the last century, was dyed with blaugrana with more than 2,000 fans. Everyone arrived on time to see the team raise the cup, first on the balcony of the Generalitat with President Pere Aragonès and then at Barcelona City Hall in the presence of the acting mayoress, Ada Colau.
The bus 14 came by the hair. He had a flat tire in La Jonquera. The anecdote was explained by Alexia Putellas herself. The captain was especially concerned because her uncle, Ricard Segura, was traveling on that bus. “This morning I received a message from my uncle, who didn't know if he could get to Sant Jaume. And here he is. Thank you all”, said the captain from the balcony of the Palau de la Generalitat.
This diary tracked down Alexia's uncle. He explained himself. “I decided to go by bus because I didn't want to miss the experience. We baptized it with the name of Johan Cruyff. Because it is the 14th. Obviously I already have a WhatsApp group with all of us who went”, explains Ricard Segura. Proudly, he shows the three tattoos that he has on his leg and on his left arm. “The first is the Barça shield. The second is the Champions League that we won in Göteborg. The third is Alexia's first Ballon d'Or. I wear them on the left side because Alexia is left-handed. Now I have two more to go for the second Ballon d'Or and for this Champions League ”, explains Segura, who also wore the Barcelona shirt of his niece. He was not alone. Alexia's name is one of the most repeated along with her number 11 number. T-shirts of Aitana, Mapi León and Claudia Pina were also seen. And the one who was not wearing an elastic waved a scarf or a Barcelona flag.
The European champions were accompanied by the president Joan Laporta and the manager Xavi Puig. Also the vice presidents Eduard Romeu and Elena Fort. They all wore sunglasses. Just like them. “The night has been long. I gave it my all”, acknowledged Aitana, who was practically speechless. They still had plenty of energy to sign autographs and take photos with the fans while manager Xavi Puig transported the Champions League with president Joan Laporta. They were helped by the president of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Pere Aragonès, who received the team at the gates of the Palau and escorted them inside the building.
While they arrived, the players took the opportunity to sign banners and flags and take photos with the fans. The vast majority were families with boys and girls. But there were also grandparents with their grandchildren and lots and lots of teenagers. From the Gothic courtyard of the Generalitat, Aragonès spoke of the beautiful connection that the women's team has achieved with the fans. "You are the benchmark for many girls and boys who watch a sport that includes the whole of society," she declared. Laporta took over with a brief but intense speech: "Citizens and citizens of Catalonia, the women's Champions League is here again," she exclaimed. "I want to say it too," said Alexia, repeating the famous phrase while the fans chanted her name, sang happy birthday to congratulate Bruna Vilamala, who turned 21 yesterday, and cheered the scorer in the final, Patri Guijarro, shouting from “Patri, MVP”.
The most emotional speech was that of Jonatan Giráldez, who became a father last week: “I am Galician, I have been here since 2012. I am proud that my son is Catalan. You are the best fans in the world”, said the coach. Sant Jaume applauded him and claimed Mapi León. "How are the machines?" Asked the Aragonese woman, also almost without a voice. Next to her, Claudia Pina celebrated the Champions League to the cry of “madridista qui no boti”. She was seconded. There was no shortage of the classics Un dia de Partit or the Cant del Barça in a celebration that they will always remember. Even Oshoala, Engën and Rolfö dared to speak Catalan with an amusing “bona tarda, som les guiris”.
"You have become indisputable references for thousands of girls who look at you and know that they have no limits, that they can be what they want. And boys also need female references that excite them, to see that the best football can be made by women "added the acting mayor, Ada Colau, who on the balcony of the City Hall presented the soccer players with a lithograph of the La Mercè 2021 poster designed by Malika Favre, a French illustrator who lives in Barcelona and who drew a woman with a crown. “She is a strong woman. Like you. We will send a copy to each of them”, Colau pointed out.
And next year?
“It will not be necessary to go by bus. We will go by car to flood Bilbao ”, alerted Alexia's uncle, who hugged his niece when she crossed the square again with the Champions League.
The soccer players left as they arrived. Signing autographs
