Barcelona’s Comeback Operation Begins: “We’ll Give It Our All…”

After falling to Chelsea in the first leg of the semifinals at Montjuïc, the Barcelona players applauded the fans as a gesture of gratitude. The Olympic Stadium responded, in unison, with a resounding ‘Yes, we can!’ And so begins the ‘comeback operation’. There’s one week and ninety minutes ahead.

“We’re hurt because we don’t like to lose,” said Irene Paredes after the match. “It’s tough, but I think in many moments of the game we were better. We didn’t create as many chances as we’re used to, but it’s a Champions League semifinal. They scored that goal, we tried until the end…”. The team’s fifth captain, who celebrated her hundredth match wearing the blue and garnet jersey, wanted to “convey calmness, I think we can do it, and I think the fans believe we can too. We’ve seen how they cheered us on, how they sang for us now too, after the match.” And she added: “There are things to improve, we have a week to prepare, and we’re going to go to win.”

Going All Out

In the same vein, Keira Walsh spoke, “we’re convinced that the job isn’t done, and it wasn’t for lack of trying or giving one hundred percent.” And she was clear: “We’re going to London to give it our all for this club and for the fans. We want to be in another final. We know where we stand, we’re Barcelona, and we’re going there to turn it around.”

And Jonatan Giráldez had the final word: “All we have to do is win. I believe everything is open for the second leg; we’re only halfway there. We need everyone going to London to cheer us on. We have the opportunity. There are ninety minutes left.”