Page 62 - Soccer360 Issue 106

ONE ON ONE
RISING STAR LAIA ALEIXANDRI
MANCHESTER CITY’S PUSH FOR HONOURS HAS BEEN SPEARHEADED BY SPAIN DEFENDER LAIA ALEIXANDRI, IN HER SECOND SEASON WITH GARETH TAYLOR’S SIDE. THE CENTRE- BACK IS ONLY 23 BUT HAS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE UNDER HER BELT AT BARCELONA AND ATLETICO MADRID, AS WELL AS WITH CITY AND THE SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM.
WHAT HAVE THIS SEASON’S MANCHESTER DERBIES AGAINST UNITED BEEN LIKE? Massive days, massive crowd. The one at
Old Trafford was amazing, crazy for sure. It’s important the fans feel they can push us to get the three points. It’s the same when we play at Joie Stadium.
WOULD YOU LIKE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY AT THE MAIN ETIHAD STADIUM TOO? Yeah, of course. I enjoy and really like to play in big scenarios. Also, the Etihad Stadium feels like home and hopefully, why not, we can play more games there. It’s always special.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES WHEN YOU PLAY AT THE LARGER, 53,400-CAPACITY ETIHAD?
Every time we play at home we have a big crowd at the Joie Stadium but it’s always a special occasion. Things like the dressing-rooms and the tunnel are different and hopefully can we play there more and enjoy.
HOW STRANGE WAS IT FOR YOU AS A GROUP OF INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS NOT TO HAVE EUROPEAN FOOTBALL THIS TERM?
Our goal is always to be a better team and
to play Champions League, to play at the top levels. So of course it has been a bit weird for us but we have wanted to return European football to the club. We want to compete
in the top levels of the game and that’s the Champions League. We’re going in the right direction.
HOW DID YOU RECOVER FROM GOING OUT OF BOTH DOMESTIC CUP COMPETITIONS IN THE SPACE OF FOUR DAYS IN MARCH?
We have a winning mentality and losing those two games was hard for us but one positive was that it focused us solely on the league. We knew how we needed to play against the rest of the teams in the run-in.
HOW PRESSURISED WAS THE WSL TITLE RACE?
It’s not a pressure because when you are a player you always dream of being at this point, playing for a title. This club was without a title for a long time so no pressure in our play, we just needed to do everything right.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES WITH SPAIN’S LALIGA?
Every match is very competitive and hard to win. The big difference with Spain is the rhythm and you need to think quicker, make decisions quicker. Quite different here.
AND HOW DID YOU CHANGE YOUR MINDSET AFTER DISAPPOINTMENT LAST TIME AROUND?
Last season we had a lot of new players and
it’s difficult when you don’t know each other. This time, we have a better mentality, a winning mentality, the goal of winning and keeping clean sheets every single time.
WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND IN THE GAME?
When I was younger, I used to play with boys and then I signed for Barca and that was when I started playing with girls. With the boys, I was a six, which I enjoyed quote a lot, being higher on the pitch. At Barca, I was a centre-back or sometimes a six. I always played football and was in love with it. I was sitting in Camp Nou watching games. It was the closest stadium to my home. I remember Xavi Hernandez was one I was watching a lot. l really liked the way he played.
WHAT WAS THE KEY TURNING POINT IN MAKING YOU THE PLAYER YOU ARE?
When I left Barca to join Atletico it was a big step for me as a person and in my career. I
was far away from my family and friends and started at a new club but it was the most important step I took in my career. It changed everything for me and made me a better player and a better person. When I came to City it was a change of culture and language too and I was very happy to come.
WHAT WAS HARDEST TO ADAPT TO IN ENGLAND?
The football was one of the harder things, adapting to the way the game is here. It was a big challenge for me to bring my game to this league because I really like to build up from the back and make the right decisions and play through, between the lines. When you feel like your performance is good and you’re in the XI, helping the team, you adapt better with other things off the pitch.
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