The euphoria of Eindhoven has landed this afternoon in Barcelona. The players, led by Jonatan Giráldez, Alexia Putellas and Joan Laporta have planted the second Champions League in the history of Barça in the Sant Jaume square in Barcelona. “Citizens and citizens of Catalonia, we already have it here again!”, shouted the president of the entity, euphoric, before the 2,000 culés that have come to receive their champions.
The expectation was maximum before the Catalans got off the bus that left them in Via Laietana minutes before six in the afternoon. All uniformed with white shirts, navy blue trousers and a Barça scarf around their necks, they have advanced in a procession with Alexia Putellas carrying the cup in her hands. Xavi Puig, the manager in charge of the team, and the captain have taken turns as trophy holders until they reach the plaza.
The first stop has been the Palau de la Generalitat. The ‘president’ Pere Aragonès was waiting for them at the main door. “Do you want to take it?” Alexia told him after the formal greetings under the balcony that would later be crowned with the trophy. All together they have gone inside the Palau to take the institutional photos before the parliaments.
“For us it is very important to celebrate with the fans and that you give us the opportunity to spend such a special day”, Alexia has confessed, her voice a little touched after the celebration on Saturday night. “It is a very special tradition that the youngest did not know about, but it is the first time that it has been done with the women’s team. We came from a final that touched our morale a bit and it has been a bit like in life; when they give you a stick you can Stay on the ground or get back up. We fought for it and we already have it here!”, the captain culé proudly explained.
After the ’11’ culé, Jonatan Giráldez has taken the floor. The coach, who has lifted his first Champions League as Barca coach in Eindhoven, has starred in one of the most tender moments of the day. “He wanted to thank Catalonia and Barcelona. People know that I am Galician, from Vigo, and I feel very proud to be able to live here. The person I love the most, my son, was able to be born in Barcelona and I am very proud that he can be Catalan”, he said, referring to Cíes, his son who was born a week ago and who accompanied him with his wife on the end of Eindhoven. “President, thank you for making me the happiest person in the world”, it is finished.
Institutional recognition
“Yesterday you achieved a great feat. You have been working for a long time to achieve milestones that no one had ever thought they could achieve,” began the president of the Generalitat. “You have become a reference for girls, who now see a way to be protagonists in the world of sport. You made a comeback that moved us all”sentenced Aragonés.
Once the official photos have been taken, the big moment has arrived. The captains, led by Alexia Putellas, Joan Laporta, Pere Aragonés and some members of the board have gone out on the balcony to offer the cup to their fans. The parliaments have been repeated and Alexia has wanted to tell an anecdote that she has driven the culés crazy. “Today I woke up and I had a message from my uncle. He is one of those who has gone on the buses, like many of you. They have punctured a tire and their suffering was being able to get here and see us deliver the cup. And they have arrived!”, she told excitedly before the entire square cheered her name.
The micro has begun to pass through the hands of all the players on the squad. Among the words of thanks were interspersed the culés chants that are heard every game at Johan Cruyff and at the Camp Nou and that were repeated this Saturday in Eindhoven. Many have been ripped off by the soccer players, others have emerged from the fans.
“I have given everything and I have lost my voice”, Aitana Bonmatí said hoarsely and between laughs. “I wanted to thank you for being here on a very special day for us. We have created a very beautiful tune with you. We dedicated it to you, we owed it to you and here it is!” She tried to shout.
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After the mass bath from the balcony of the Palau de la Generalitat, the staff, squad and management crossed the square to deliver the cup to the City Hall. “Thank you for making us dream and for this victory that has made an entire country vibrate”, said Ada Colau, acting mayor after the elections on May 28, in the Saló de Cent of the consistory. “Thanks to Barça for making this commitment to women’s football and for continuing to do so. You have become indisputable benchmarks for thousands of girls who know they have no limits”, she added, accompanied by the Culé delegation.
With this Sunday afternoon, the team ends the season in the sweetest way possible. Now the activity is focused on dispatches, which promise a few intense weeks.