#lluis cortes

[didalexiabreakupwitholgayet]

Hi, I love your blog and thanks for the history lessons. Do you mind letting us know more about Vicky Losada and why she left Barca?

thanks anon! 🫶 sure, so vicky losada was former captain of barça. she was with the club from 2004 - 2021, with one year away at espanyol, a year in the nwsl, and a year at arsenal, but she rejoined barça in 2016, right after they gained professional status. in total she had 13 seasons with barça and is a true club legend.

but like with most barça players who hit their 30s, they more or less get pushed out of the club, and that's essentially what happened with vicky. she had one more year left on her contract, but with her reduced minutes, she decided to leave.

in an interview with relevo, vicky said that the worst moment of her career was leaving barça and that it happened to be "in the best year of [her] career in terms of titles."

she also said that she was evaluating her place in the team and was dealing with injuries. there were players joining barça that were of a higher level than she was at and she wanted to pass the captaincy on to the others. "you, as a footballer, feel when it's time to leave."

vicky also supposedly clashed with then manager, lluís cortés, who preferred other players over her. she even mentioned speaking to the club about not feeling very valued in her last year. she also said there were fights and she wasn't happy. we don't know too many of the details of what went on behind the scenes, but clearly there were divisions between the staff and locker room because both vicky and cortés acknowledged as much and said they were working on resolving those issues internally. later that summer, cortés himself left.

anyway, vicky still wanted to play and was evaluating offers at high level clubs. she said she got an offer to join tigres in liga mx femenil, but turned it down to join man city. and now she's with brighton in the wsl.

so yeah it's a tale as old as time. club legend aged out of their club, clashed with the former manager, and just wanted a bigger role and more minutes to play.

and we did get this really cute moment of vicky racing through the stadium with mariona to greet her partner (former arsenal player emma byrne) after they won champions.

hope this helps!

[outsideratheart]

Nobody Compares To You (Claudia Pina x reader)

Based off this request

Getting called up to the Barcelona senior team was something you worked hard to achieve but like all things in life, it came at a cost. You would never forget the day, it was a Tuesday when you were told that Lluis Cortes wanted to talk to you. At first you didn’t think anything of it as it wasn’t the first time you met with the coach but it was the first time you met with him and your manager. 

“How would you like to join the senior team?” 

At first you thought he was joking but the look in his eyes told you he wasn’t. 

“I would like that very much” you try to remain calm and composed in front of the man who would soon become your coach. 

You rejoin the B team and Claudia gets called over. At first you think that your dream is going to come true, that the two of you would make your debut together but then you see Lluis getting into his car and you feel your heart sink knowing that she won’t be having the same conversation that you had.

You watch as Claudia ambled back towards you. Her eyes were dim and you could have sworn you saw her bottom lip trembling. 

“I’m staying with the B team for another season, something about them wanting me to develop further” 

This was bullshit. You and Claudia were identical on the pitch, no way could they see something in you and not see it in her. 

Your hesitation in replying and the look of guilt across your face tells Claudia that you received good news.

“I’m sorry—“ you want to console your best friend.

“Don’t apologise. Just promise me that it won’t change anything, that you won’t forget me” the look in her eyes showed fear but to you it was absurd that she thought it possible. 

“I promise” you hold out your pinky sealing the promise. 

It was a promise you intended to keep and in your defence you did keep half of it. You never forgot about Claudia, if anything you thought about her more than ever. Things did change though but they were out of your control. The time you spent together became less and less due to the two of you training at different times and you had extra training sessions. You tried your hardest to make time for your best friend but she only saw your lack of effort as you choosing anything and everyone but her. 

***********************

Three seasons later you find out that Claudia is getting called up to the senior team and you couldn’t have been happier. It's like the stars aligned or something.

“Someone’s happy” Leila nudges you as you tie your boots.

“What can I say, I have been looking forward to this day for years” you know Leila was teasing you but nothing could ruin your mood, or so you thought.

“Oh yes, today is day your girlfriend is joining us” Mapi joins in on the teasing.

“She’s not my girlfriend” you correct her.

Mapi and Leila share a look, one that you don’t recognise.

“Y/N we have heard the way you talk about her, our little star is in love”

You want to argue, say that you aren’t but the two meli’s know when you are lying and it would only lead to more teasing. Knowing that they have planted a seed in your head, the defenders leave you alone as you think about Claudia.

The team trained for about an hour before you saw her standing on the sidelines with some of the coaching staff. Suddenly football became a lot less interesting as you watched her from a distance. The two leaders of the team Vicky and Mel get called over, you see them introduce themselves and for some reason you feel yourself get nervous.

“Chicas!” Vicky shouts and like sheep to their shepherd, the team run towards her.

“This is Claudia Pina” 

You watch as your best friends mumbles a shy hi.

“After her outstanding performance on the B team she is now officially part of the—“

“The A Team” Jenni shouts earning a slap on her arm from Alexia.

“Claudia this is abuse and it is not tolerated, Ale go do laps” Jenni says in her most serious tone causing the group to laugh.

You don’t break focus though, all you cared about was finally being able to hold the new forward in your arms.

Mel and Vicky introduce Claudia to the team, purposely leaving you till last.

“This is Y/N Y/L/N although from what this one tells me you two already know each other, pretty well if memory serves me correctly”

With that the two older players leave you alone.

“That was a long time ago” Claudia says which catches you off guard.

“What’s that suppose to mean?” You ask.

“I mean a lot has changed since then. I’m not the same person and you certainly are not”

Her tone was like a knife to your heart.

You want her to explain further but you don’t get the chance as Jenni pulls her away, something about forward bonding time.

“Everything ok?” Patri asks.

“No, I don’t think it is” 

Not knowing how to respond Patri simply rubs your back in comfort before leaving you alone with your thoughts.

*******************

The next few weeks are rough, your attempts of speaking to Claudia go unsuccessful but it isn’t for a lack of trying. You text her every morning asking if she wants a ride to training, she replies no. You try to make conversation with her during breakfast, she wants no part of it. At first it was confusing, you would lay up at night thinking about what you could have do to earn a reaction like this but nothing comes to mind. After week 8 your confusion is replaced with anger, how could your best friend be treating you like a stranger and yet somehow act like the victim.

You decide to give Claudia a taste of her own medicine. With each day that passes you make less of an effort to be a part of her day. The only time the two of you interact is on the pitch, the team in awe at the way you play with each other. It is like you have a sixth sense for each other’s presence, you are able to play balls to one another without saying a word which is a blessing given the current circumstances of your relationship.

You had missed playing with her and the moments you share on the pitch are still the highlight of your day no matter how hard to try to be mad at her, deep down you know that you never could be.

You try one last time to talk to her after a gym session but she blanks you completely, the ignorance you receive pushes you to your breaking point. You storm out of the gym having no interest in being near her. Your reaction gains the attention of the team as they are used to you been calm no matter the situation.

“What was that about?” Vicky asks clearly concerned for you.

Although her question is directed at the entire team her gaze remains on Claudia.

The others players answer honestly, they had no idea what was wrong with you and that is exactly what you wanted. You were always a private person, there was no room on the pitch for your personal life.

“What about you Claudia, do you know what is wrong with Y/N?” Alexia asks noticing how the young forward stays quiet

“No, why would I?” She replies blatantly.

“Because you’re her best friend?” Alexia asks.

“No, I’m not. Not anymore” Claudia says as if it were obvious.

“There’s your answer Ale” Leila tells the Catalonian.

*******************

Claudia watches you during training a couple of days later, waiting for you to approach her as you did every other session only that doesn’t happen. Instead you partner up with Mel rarely moving a meter away from her. The team leaves the training field and still you don’t talk to or even look in her direction.

Her stare burns into you as you get changed and you only stop feeling it when you leave the facility.  

“What did you expect kid? Y/N is human, she can only take so much before she gives up” Mel pats the newbie on her back before heading to the showers. 

Is this what has happened, have you given up? Did Claudia care, she did after all think you gave up on her the moment you left the B team. 

As she slumps down into her locker she rethinks her behaviour. Feeling a presence near her she turns to see Jenni with alexia now sitting on her other side.

“She misses you” Alexia tells her. 

“Then she shouldn’t have left me” Claudia thinks back to the day you said goodbye, how you broke your promise, you left and gave her no second thought.

“She didn’t leave you. She was given a life changing opportunity and she took it. She shouldn’t be punished for that” Alexia was extremely protective over you and had been since you joined the team. She saw the way your light slowly dimmed every time Claudia dismissed you. 

“She left and didn’t give me a second thought, she—“

“Y/N went to almost all the B team games. Does that sound that something somebody would do if they didn’t care?” now it is Jenni’s who comes to your defence. 

“That’s not true. You’re just covering for her because you are on her side”

“I am” Alexia is quick to respond.

“We’re not” Jenni tries to play the voice of reason whilst Alexia was beginning to get frustrated at the the young girls ignorance. 

“Why would she come to the games, she didn’t play for the team anymore”

“Because she wanted to see you and you wouldn’t take her calls or answer her texts” Jenni tells her as she thinks back to the times she saw you text Claudia only to recieve no response or how your heart broke after the numerous times she sent you to voicemail.

“I lost her” Claudia says in defeat.

“You grew apart, it happens but the way you have treated her since joining us hasn’t helped your relationship. She has done nothing but be nice to you and you have thrown it in her face time and time again” Alexia shows no sign of backing off.

“Ale” 

“Fine” Alexia holds her hands up in defeat before walking away.

“Listen kid” Jenni stands up “relationships are tough and they don’t get easier as we get older, they require work from both sides, trust me. I have never seen Y/N like this so I can’t give you any advice other than I suggest you try to make things right with her before it’s too late”

As Jenni leaves, Claudia realises that she is the only player left in the locker room. She takes her phone from her bag and dials your number, which goes straight to voicemail.

“Guess I deserve that” She mumbles to herself.

************************

After taking a shower that was way too hot to be healthy you plant yourself of the sofa with no intention of moving, well that is until your takeout arrives. 

Almost 90 minutes later, 45 minutes after your supposed delivery time you hear a knock on at your door and assume it’s your pizza. 

“What took you so long?” You ask slightly irritated at the tardiness. 

It is only when you go to reach for the food that you realise it isn’t the delivery guy. 

“I was been an arsehole” Claudia says as a means to apologise. 

You roll your eyes as you move aside letting her into your apartment. 

“The girls are very protective over you” Claudia says thinking back to the conversation she had in the locker room.

Her words earn a scoff from you. 

“I know. Is that what you came to tell me? If so you can leave now” you make you way to the door, your fingers grasp the handle. 

“Y/N wait!” 

“Say what you came to say or leave Claudia. I have had enough of your—well—whatever it is you have been doing” For the first time in years you have to think about what to say to her when before it used to come so easy to you. 

“You broke your promise” with her head down you barely hear what she says. 

At this point Claudia reminds you of a lost puppy and for the the first time you see that she too is hurting.

“I never” you stand by your actions knowing that in your eyes it was her who made you go back on your word. After all it is hard to remain in contact with someone when said person refuses to take your calls. 

“You did” Claudia raises her voice slightly, you take a step back with surprise. 

“Like I said I didn’t but do explain why you think I did?” 

Your tone is emotionless as you do your best to protect yourself. The last you want is to give Claudia the satisfaction of knowing how much she has hurt you. 

Just as she begins to talk, she makes the extra steps to close the distance between the two of you. 

“Whatever you have to say you can say it from over there” you hold your arm out stopping her in her tracks. 

Claudia begins pacing the length of your living room and you cannot help but laugh. Here she is doing the same thing she always did when she was nervous. It might be the only thing has stayed the same all these years later.

“You left and I was hurt, I’m still hurt. We had plans and a future and one afternoon everything changed. You left to pursue a dream that was meant to be for the both of us” 

“I couldn’t turn them down” 

“And I wouldn’t have wanted you to. I think I was jealous. I saw the way your life changed and it suited you Y/N. Being in the senior team, having your face on posters around the city, going to events with the players that we used to idolise” 

As she list the reasons you only get angrier, all of the things she mentions, in a way, had nothing to do with you.

“You are talking about things that were out of my control. Like you said, a lot of things changed, I had all of these amazing opportunities but all I wanted was you Claudia” you are now shouting but you continue anyways “I needed my best friend and you wasn’t there and now you have the audacity to be mad at me, to ignore me, you don’t get to do that!!!!!” You voice cracks, a result of you raising your voice and the overwhelming emotions you are feeling.

“Y/N I said Im sorry”

“No Claudia you haven’t. You have come to my home after treating me like shit for the past couple of months and for what, to tell me I hurt you. Well guess what, you hurt me too. The only difference is that you did it on purpose!” 

“I am sorry” the smaller girl tell you as she walks closer to you. 

“Why didn’t you tell me how you felt? We never keep things from each, or least we didn’t” once again you are reminded how things have changed over the years. 

Claudia stops when she is less than a meter away from you. When she looks up her eyes brimmed with tears, this sight alone breaks your heart. 

“Pequeño”

“I thought that you were happier without me. You were all over my social media, a huge smile on your face and I hated that I wasn’t the reason for it. You would post photos with the other girls and I got jealous. I would see your name on my phone screen and believe me when I say I wanted to answer it but then I started to think what if you are calling to tell me that you met someone else”

“There is no one else Claudia”

“But —“

Knowing that in this moment one simple action will reassure more than any amount of words ever could you do the thing that you have been wanting to do since you were 15 years old. You muster every ounce of confidence you can before pulling Claudia into you, your hands cups her face and your lips crash into hers. At first she doesn’t reciprocate the kiss, it’s only when you pull away in fear that you have put her in an uncomfortable situation does she reconnect yours lips.

As you pull apart both of you take a deep breath, letting your head catch up with your heart.

“Believe when I say there is nobody in the world that compares to you Claudia Pina” 

[cruyffista]

https://www.tumblr.com/cruyffista/761517547563696128/barca-fems-coach-is-only-31

the previous coach jonatan giráldez started coaching barça femení in 2021 when he was like 29-30 years old.

tbh i'm kind of jealous of how seamlessly barca fem has gone from lluis cortes to jonatan to pere romeu without much disruption to the team

[uswnt5]

I hope we don't replace him with Lluis Cortes. He makes Vlatko seem like a dream coach.

I can't see them not hiring a woman for real

[palaugranetes]

Lluis Cortes via IG stories:

"Another recognition for a great season @fcbfemeni had 👏 When we said that it was indeed possible they thought we were mad... Well another madness acheived😉

Congratulations @alexiaputellas94 and like I always tell you: never stop💪🏻

[thegreatpumpkin11]

[caitlinclark]

[agreatbigworldn]

Lluis Cortes. Must read it! Part 2

21:48 - All busy highway lanes in the direction of Lviv. Finally our driver has decided to go in the opposite direction to gain time. Thousands, thousands, thousands of people leaving Kiev, and many of them leaving EVERYTHING behind and not knowing where to go.

23:59 - This is still the same… We are about 350 km from Lviv. That is, in almost 11 hours we have traveled about 150 km. But nothing invites us to be afraid. Uncertainty yes; eager to get there, too. 00:00 - And the national anthem of Ukraine plays on the radio.

01:37 - We are closer to Lviv, about 250 km. but there is no more traffic on the highway and we can drive normally. It is shocking to see the gas stations full of so many cars and you start to see some damaged vehicles on the curb…

05:20 - We passed Redzivilluv, about 90 km from Lviv. People are sleeping here, but our staff members are sending us videos of Kiev where it is impossible to sleep, as attacks in the capital have intensified. I find it terrifying.

05:37 - We have left the main road because the driver suggests that by this shortcut we will reach Lviv sooner. The state of the road is unfortunate, but we trust him.

06:24 - We stopped to refuel and we just had to wait. We took the opportunity to buy more food just in case. We should be in Lviv in less than 2 hours. There is less left.

08:54 - Finished the first part of the game. After 19 hours of road and road travel, we have arrived at the hotel in Lviv, we have showered, and shortly we will meet to prepare for the second part: crossing the border. Much encouragement to those who have not yet arrived in Lviv 14:44 - In Lviv everything is calm, people seem to lead normal life, although some shops are closed. The shops, pharmacies, banks, are not saturated like yesterday in Kiev. By the way, Lviv is a beautiful city.

21:26 - We continue at the hotel in Lviv, we have the suitcase ready to leave at the time indicated by the federation. We don't know which part of the border we'll be heading to. The night will be long but we hope tomorrow to be able to write from Poland.

22:21 - We're in the car. The adventure begins.

26th of Febraury

12:55 - We arrived at Premyzir station (Poland 🇵🇱). We are finally in a safe zone after 55 hours since we left Kiev. It has been a hard night and without coverage to tell where we were. When I can I will make a chronicle of everything I have experienced in the last few hours.

We are still on the train, under surveillance by the Polish police. The contrast inside is brutal: happy faces because they have finally been able to leave a territory at war, and very sad faces, with tears in their eyes, of those who have left their own defending the country.

Because do not forget that the reality in Kiev is this:

15:02 - The children begin to descend with their companions. This good girl is handing out sweets to everyone. Admirable people. Thanks!!!

[garciapimienta]

LLUIS 💖💖💖🥺🥺🥺

[calciopics]

Nominees revealed for 2020/21 UEFA Player of the Year Awards

UEFA has today announced the names of the nominees shortlisted for the 2020/21 UEFA Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year Awards. The award winners will be announced at the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony, which will take place on Thursday 26 August at the Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

On the same occasion, UEFA will also honour the coaches who have had the biggest impact over the previous season with the UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year and UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year Awards.

UEFA Men’s Player of the Year

For the men’s player award, the shortlist of three players was selected by a jury composed of 24 coaches of the national teams which participated in this summer’s UEFA EURO 2020, together with 80 coaches of the clubs which played in the group stages of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Fifty-five journalists from each of UEFA’s 55 member associations, selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, were also part of the jury.

The coaches and journalists were requested to select a shortlist of three players by allocating respectively five points, three points and one point to each of them. The final result was based on the total number of votes cast by the coaches and the journalists. The coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their own team.

The three players who received the most points overall following the conclusion of the voting, in alphabetical order, are:

Kevin DE BRUYNE (Belgium – Manchester City FC)

JORGINHO (Italy – Chelsea FC)

N’Golo KANTÉ (France – Chelsea FC)

UEFA Women’s Player of the Year

For the women’s player award, the shortlist of three players was selected by a jury composed of the coaches of the clubs which participated in the Round of 16 of the 2020/21 UEFA Women’s Champions League, together with the coaches of the 12 highest-ranked teams in the latest UEFA women’s national team ranking. Twenty journalists specialising in women’s football and selected by the ESM group were also part of the jury.

Similarly to the men’s accolade, coaches and journalists were requested to select a shortlist of three players by allocating respectively five points, three points and one point to each of them. The final result was based on the total number of votes cast by the coaches and the journalists. The coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their own team.

The three players who received the most points overall from this voting procedure, in alphabetical order, are:

Jennifer HERMOSO (Spain – FC Barcelona)

Lieke MARTENS (Netherlands – FC Barcelona)

Alexia PUTELLAS (Spain – FC Barcelona)

UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year

For the men’s coach award, the shortlist of three coaches was selected by a jury composed of 24 coaches of the national teams which participated in the recent UEFA EURO 2020, together with 80 coaches of the clubs which played in the group stages of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Fifty-five journalists from each of UEFA’s 55 member associations, selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, were also part of the jury.

The coaches and journalists were requested to select a shortlist of three coaches by allocating respectively five points, three points and one point to each of them. The final result was based on the total number of votes cast by the coaches and the journalists. The coaches were not allowed to vote for themselves.

The three coaches who received the most points overall following the conclusion of the voting, in alphabetical order, are:

Josep GUARDIOLA (Spain – Manchester City FC)

Roberto MANCINI (Italy – Italian men’s national team)

Thomas TUCHEL (Germany – Chelsea FC)

UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year

For the women’s coach award, the shortlist of three coaches was selected by a jury composed of the coaches of the clubs which participated in the Round of 16 of the 2020/21 UEFA Women’s Champions League, together with the coaches of the 12 highest-ranked teams in the latest UEFA women’s national team ranking. Twenty journalists specialising in women’s football and selected by the ESM group were also part of the jury.

Similarly to the men’s coach accolade, the coaches and journalists were requested to select a shortlist of three coaches by allocating respectively five points, three points and one point to each of them. The final result was based on the total number of votes cast by the coaches and the journalists. The coaches were not allowed to vote for themselves.

The three coaches who received the most points overall following the conclusion of the voting, in alphabetical order, are:

Lluís CORTÉS (Spain – FC Barcelona)

Peter GERHARDSSON (Sweden – Swedish women’s national team)

Emma HAYES (England – Chelsea FC Women)

The UEFA Player of the Year Awards complement the positional awards, which will crown the best men’s and women’s Goalkeeper, Defender, Midfielder and Forward of the 2020/21 club competition season, and which will also be announced during the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony on Thursday 26 August in Istanbul.

[didalexiabreakupwitholgayet]

hi love your content! thanks for sharing. also the name makes me laugh every time 😊

do you know anymore background on what happened btw Lluis Cortes and the players towards the end of the ‘20-‘21 season that led to him resigning? i’ve always wondered, bc the players seemed to come out of the gate so aggressively at the beginning of the ‘21-‘22 season, and it seemed like the culture / camaraderie actually declined a little? did they think he wasn’t intense *enough*? something else lacking? do you know anything about how/why he went to coach ukraine? would’ve thought he could have more attractive options, but perhaps a national team in europe was a good next step? i think he is still relatively young (coaching really seems to age people 😅)

i think ive seen him be friendly w some of the players when he’s encountered them since (Alexia in Saudi Arabia, and Jenni and others when they played ukraine maybe). thanks for any info!

lluís cortés is a fascinating figure, and he's currently manager of the saudi arabia women's national team. and yes, he has maintained good relationships with a number of former players, including alexia and jenni. alexia was able to catch up with him when she went to saudi arabia and visited with the women's team.

and cortés reportedly turned down the morocco women's team job after learning that jorge vilda would be involved, in solidarity with jenni.

so his career at barça was not without controversy. so in june 2021, sport reported that barça players (through the captains) went to the board and asked for cortés to be removed as manager for the next season.

we don't know the full details of the locker room strife, but it was probably due to an over intensity (not lack thereof) and lack of squad rotation and overplaying that happened during those years. sport further reported that the "intensity that has been experienced in the last two and a half years has had an impact on coexistence and on day-to-day life and that it is best to start from scratch with a new coaching staff because if it continues like this the team suffer...the wear and tear that has occurred cannot be redirected and that staying the same would not be a good solution."

and then lluís formally resigned later in june. honestly, i think jona was not a better tactician than lluís and certainly learned a lot of things from him when he served as cortés' assistant since 2019. but i did think that jona was a better people manager and had the social aspect of team management down better than lluís did.

as for why he went to ukraine, well cortés spoke extensively about feeling "burned out" during his time at barça. just like emma hayes said recently, the schedule for being an international manager is just better and less intense than being a club manager, especially a high performing club like barça with a long schedule and multiple cup competitions. to me, that's why it made perfect sense for cortés to go to a national team.

"I felt at the end of the season, I was so tired, I was living far from my home city. I wanted to spend more time with my family, I wanted to rest. I wanted to exit from this stressful life for some time. For this reason, I wanted to leave the team. Of course, it's true, that at the end of the season I felt a lack of feeling with some players but it's normal in a football team...As a coach, when you have all these feelings mixed, you have to make a decision. I think it was the best decision for me, for the club and for everybody."

so yeah, i think lluís is a talented manager with a lot of skill and is not a bad guy or anything like that. but i do think he's grown up a lot and learned a lot, especially when it comes to team politics and learning how to manage players. he is contracted to saudi arabia through 2027 but i wouldn't be surprised to see him coach a european national team soon.

[fishinthewater2611]

Bruna looked like she's ready to hear some scolding from a teacher lol

[nco05]

UWCL RO16 Leg 2: 1/4th finals let’s gooooooooo

FCB Femení, rightfully considered among the top favs to win this thing

(I try not to swear. See how I fare. It wasn’t easy since I type these things on feeling)

First and foremost, happy birthday to Lieke! I bet you’ll enjoy this one a lot! PS: For the two Andrea’s I use Pere and Falcon.

Cata’s back in goal! She didn’t have much to do. The goal she conceided, looked like it was offside but it was not clear at all. She did well and stayed calm. I cannot believe she’s only 19 and already playing like this. We can rotate between her and Sandra perfectly fine and that is a very good thing. The only difference you’ll notice is the person themselves. Go on playstyle and you won’t notice a single defect;

Caro had a brace, first this season. She was amazing this match. I consider her as a WOTM but not the only one;

Cuz the birthday girl herself Lieke also scored a brace and was overall very attacking;

A bummer for Alexia not being able to score with 4 attempts on target. She still gave an assist and moved the pace of the game so not all was in vain;

It was lovely to see Falcon back out there after the long road to recovery. She played well;

I don’t blame Pere for PSV’s goal, which she accidentally assisted in. At the time of the game, we already had an 8 - 2 aggregate with roughly 15 minutes left on the clock. She tried to defend and it backfired. That stuff happens sometimes. She did well the entire game;

The yellow card on Mapi was absolutely ridiculous. She clearly played ball, a tackle like that is completely fine. But hey she still played a good game and didn’t lose focus.

I also want to focus on Lluis cuz I don’t talk about him enough: He rotates between players better than any coach I’ve seen this year. The youngsters Jana and Bruna got some minutes, Vicky, Melanie and Falcon played a bit more, Mariona and Asisat got rested a little, Leila got rested completely. He rotates between Sandra and Cata instead of having 1 goalie play every minute of every game, something he did last year. He learns and adapts to situations well and always communicates well with the team. He’s a big factor in how strong the team is today.

Iberdrola’s got 2 more matches this year: one in the weekend, one on a weekday. Despite 2020 being... 2020, we can agree this year was amazing for them.

For now let’s enjoy the fact they qualified the 5th consecutive season for Quarters!

[uswnt5]

I would not want Lluis Cortes at all (for Angel City or the USWNT). His Barca players revolted after they won the Champions League with him, which doesn't happen unless there's a serious issue. The "best" explanation I have heard is that he didn't like to rotate and played his favored starters without resting them even when they were winning games 5-0. The "worst" explanation is that he slept with his players (I don't think that's true though).

Other than Barca (who at the time was the only team putting $ into their women's team in Spain) what else has he done? Why would they hire him?

[palaugranetes]

The Camp Nou will honor the UEFA Awards winners

There was a total FCB Femení sweepstake last evening at the UEFA awards with all 4 positions, the POTY and COTY being handed to the current Champions of Europe.

And to celebrate this historic acheivement, Alexia Putellas (Player of the Year and Best UWCL Midfielder) Sandra Paños (Best UWCL Goalkeeper) Irene Paredes (Best UWCL defender) Jenni Hermoso (Best UWCL Forward) will be honored at the Camp Nou in the Run-up to the Barça-Getafe game this sunday.

20000 people will be honoring Alexia and the 3 Blaugrana winners at the Camp Nou.

There is also the possibility of Lluis Cortes (COTY) to attend as well and get the recognition from the Camp Nou for a great season's work.

The celebration will happen without the trophy presentation, as UEFA had decided they will be handing the awards to the 4 winners at the First UWCL 21-22 game at the Johan Cruyff.

Due to Covid restrictions, the winners and nominees weren't able to attend the award ceremony, held in Istambul, in person

[thegreatpumpkin11]