After spending all your career coaching in Spain, since June, you have trained in the American NwslAs a Washington Spirit’s chief coach. By thinking more widely of the NWSL, what differences have you observed in the style of play in this league, compared to European football? “Yes, being honest is different. I think that in Spain and Europe, with regard to tactical plans, there is a high level, and here it is very entertaining, because the style of play (here) thinks “what should I do to give my best supporters and make people appreciate?” Only 25 to 30% of the games here are filled with a difference in two goals. The rest of the matches, there is only one difference in goals. This means that the league is very competitive. It is therefore very difficult if you compare it with my past with Barcelona in Spain because most of the games that we won 4-0, 5-0, 6-0, easy and in Europe, other games, but the level of tactics was very, very high. Here, the player’s level is also high, but everything is linked to entertainment. These are more physical, more direct transitions, chances, not too much control. I try to change it a little. I want to increase entertainment, that’s for sure, but I want to reduce transitions and have more control in games. »»
At the end of your first half-season in charge of Washington Spirit, you reached the NWSL championship final, but you finally lost 1-0 against Orlando Pride in the last match of the season in November. As a coach, how long does you need to overcome a narrow defeat like that, when the trophy was so close? “You need days, weeks, because I consider myself a very competitive person, and I don’t like to lose. But when you analyze what you have done well, what you can improve for the next season, you must be proud of the project and how you do it so far, because there are other incredible teams in the league. We have beat the championship team (in title), Gotham, we had a better position than Kansas and Portland, in North Carolina, teams that have the experience of a good job in recent seasons. »»
Overall, then, how do you think about your stay at the club so far since you arrived in June, on the field? “We arrived late, for sure, in the middle of the season, in June. (We had) to compete from the start in important games. But we wanted to compete in every match and try to win. I don’t like to say things like “OK, I need one, two, three years” – it’s very easy, it’s very simple. For me, it’s “OK, it’s the situation, it’s the list, it’s the training session, it’s the establishment, it’s the staff. That’s all we have to have. After finishing the season, I was not happy of course, because we lost the final and obtained the second position, but, seeing the overview, I think we have done a good job and we must be proud of it. »»
Tactically, would you say that your tactical approach is different from Washington Spirit compared to the tactics you have deployed in your old club, Barcelona, where you won the female champions League twice in a row? “It’s a good question. When I tell people I do the same things, people are surprised. I’ll explain why. The only things I do differently are the content I use to achieve with players, but the game model is the same. When we have possession of the ball, when we do not have possession of the ball or take communication between the players, it is the same thing. I understand that I have other types of players here, other characteristics of players, so what I try to do is use it, and the way I want to attack and defend is different, but the methodology is the same. I did not have Patri (Patricia Guijarro), I did not have Aitana (Bonmati), I have other players. I’m not talking about “better or worse”. Others. So, what I have to do as a coach is to exploit their level as much as possible to make sure they compete at the level as much as possible. But in terms of methodology, my methodology is exactly the same that I did at Barça. »»
What was the decision of a decision for you to move with such a great distance across the Atlantic? “This is not the first time that I have lived far from home, but it is not the same thing because it is (now) another language, but I had to move in 2012 from Galicia in Catalonia, so this is not my first experience. The adaptation of the club, with the staff, with the players, as well as the establishment, the city, in the place where we live here close to the establishment, of the neighbors, I must say that everything is fine. The only thing I missed is undoubtedly my family. They do not live near, in Barcelona and in Galicia, you are closer than here, but I really appreciate my experience. I think we had a good rest period during the holidays. Over the past 13 years, this is the first time that I could spend the holidays at home (due to the NWSL calendar). »»
The owner of Washington Spirit, the American businesswoman Michele Kang, has invested a lot of money in female sports. Can you tell us what it is to work with her and how did she convince you to join the club? “When we had the negotiations, this moment was very easy because I heard about her and the vision she has for women’s football. She wants to give the same opportunities for men and women, and it is very important because when you can live as an athlete 24 hours a day, you can just think of football. There are places (clubs) where you have to go out to work on different things because you are not lucky in your establishment. Here she is very close to the players. When I need something on resources, it is always open (she says) “if that improves the performance of players, go ahead”. We share the vision to enlarge women’s football. »»
Women’s “football” is undoubtedly popular in the United States, and NWSL matches attracted an average crowd of more than 11,000 people last season. What differences have you noticed in support for European women’s football? “Fans’ culture is completely different, being honest. In Spain, people are very, very close, they have a high and high energy, they feel like they are playing the game. Here, people enjoy entertainment. They go to the stadium an hour earlier. They appreciate it with their family. If you win, it’s ok, if you don’t win, I think they also appreciate it. They are, until the last minute, pushing, pushing and pushing. They appreciate it when we defend. It is therefore a completely different environment. I lived at Barça (where) you have to win every match, you have to score a lot of goals, because otherwise, you don’t manage well. Here, people simply believe that you have to have fun and (they want you to do it) qualify for the playoffs, and when you are there, compete to win, but in the regular season, take advantage of it, I would like to win all the games and in the regular season too. We have to give our best in the regular season. But I am happy. It is a new type of support for the team, but I really appreciate it. »»
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While we look at the 2025 season, what can you tell us about your preparations for the new campaign? “Arriving in the middle of the season (last season) was complicated, for sure, but now, from the start, I can decide exactly what I want to do every week to be ready to play the first tournament, the week before the start of the season. So I’m happy because from the start, I have no excuse. I have no excuse, so as not to start positively. And the team will be prepared for the first official match at the start of the season. »»
What does it take to happen so that your team is going to finish second place in the finish first? “Improve this season, we have to start and get up every day to give the best of the training session, to be a better player that we were last season. This is the main objective. I am very sure of my capacity and the capacity of the players, because I am convinced that this season will be better than the last.”