Interviews
MAR 03.01.2017
Andressa Alves was FC Barcelona's star signing of summer 2016. The 24-year-old Brazilian, who is known for the winning goal she scored for Brazil against Spain in the Women's World Cup in Canada back in 2015, decided to leave French side Montpellier and try her hand at the Catalan giants. After representing her country in the Olympic Games in August at home in Brazil, Alves headed across the Atlantic to Spain for another foray into European football.
She moved to Spain last summer with the aim of playing in the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time in her career and winning everything she could along the way. Five months later, Barcelona are in the quarter finals of the Champions League and second in the Liga Femenina Iberdrola, just one point off the top of the table. The Brazilian shares with LaLiga her impressions on her first few months in Spain.
Question: How were your Christmas holidays? Did you get some good rest?
Answer: They were great. I spent them in Brazil, we had 10 days off to recharge our batteries with our families so we would come back feeling fresh.
Q: What are your New Year's resolutions?
A: To have a successful year with Barcelona. We're capable of playing better than we did last year, and we're hoping to improve so that we can win the league. On an individual level, I hope to be on good form and injury-free, so I can help the team win the league.
Q: How is your adaptation process to Spanish football going?
A: It's going really well. Spanish and Brazilian football are similar - they both involve a lot of short passing. In France the style of play was more direct, the teams there try and get the ball forward quickly, but at Barcelona we like to keep the ball and pass our way towards the opposition's goal.
Q: At the start of your time here you found goals hard to come by. How were these first few months for you?
A: I was relaxed, although when you're not scoring you get a bit restless. But my first goal came along soon after this, and it was really special. It was in my first Champions League match, at home at the Mini Estadi, and it was a match-winner as well - it was worth the wait. All my teammates really wanted me to score and when I did they all celebrated with me - it was a great moment.
Primera sessió amb @10andressaalves https://t.co/sKixAkjqKq / Primera sesión con Andressa https://t.co/OMFikI0YXe pic.twitter.com/lhPDeeCLpl
— FCB Femení (@FCBfemeni) September 1, 2016
Translation: First training session with @10andressaalves.
Q: You're due to face fellow Brazilian Marta in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, in the match against FC Rosengard. Have you discussed this with her?
A: We're friends from the national team. I spoke to her when the draw was made and I said to her "you can score all the goals you want in January and February, but when March comes along, stop!"
Q: What are your thoughts on the match?
A: It's going to be tough. It'll be a difficult game and we must be at our very best in the away leg so that we can settle the tie in the return leg.
Q: Before you return to Champions League action, you and your teammates come back from the Christmas break and face Levante UD in the Liga Femenina Iberdrola. It's second place against third. Have you already forgotten about the defeat in the Calderon before Christmas?
A: It's in the past. A new year has begun and we’re playing at the Mini, we need to get off to a good start this year and not let anything other than winning cross our minds. We have to fight and work hard to get what we want, which is to win the league.
Q: What does playing for Barcelona mean to you?
A: I've always said the same thing, it's a dream come true. As a kid, I always loved watching Barcelona and the opportunity to play for the club came around when I was in Brazil fulfilling another one of my dreams, which was playing for the national team at the Olympic Games. I never imagined that I'd play for Barcelona. To now be here playing for Barcelona is the best experience for me.
© LALIGA - 2017