Patri Guijarro: “I needed psychological help to cope with this summer”

It’s been a complicated summer. How are you? How do you see the locker room?

Even though it’s been a tough summer, the locker room is pretty good. In fact, I think it is one of the best starts we have had to the season, both at the intensity level of training and at the level of play. I think because of the World Cup, with so many people going, I was expecting maybe more fatigue, on the contrary, there would be a very good intensity.

He decided not to go to the World Cup. How was your summer?

It was difficult, but at the same time I wanted to get away from football for a bit, so it wouldn’t get any harder for me. After ten years with no summers, of course eliminating covid, I wanted to enjoy and take advantage of it with my family. I followed the World Cup as much as I could, but mentally I wanted to escape so much.

How did you mentally manage all this context? Need professional help?

I won’t deny it to you, it was very difficult. There were also more complex and frustrating situations. But I let a psychologist help me because there was obviously a need. Of course, not only because of this situation, it is also true that it helped me a lot, and in the end I was very focused on my decision. I spoke very clearly, I explained very clearly, and for that reason alone I remained quite calm.

At what point do you realize it and seek psychological help?

I wanted to have an outside vision, to see things with different eyes. Last season I allowed the psychologists at Barça to help me, but it is true that we changed many psychologists during the year, so I decided to leave the club. This situation with the federation helped me a lot to focus. My energy should go to what is connected to me, not to what is outside. After my decision [de no ir a Mundial] I had to stay calm and that’s what I did. Of course, it’s not an easy decision. After all, you’re missing the World Cup, how can that not be difficult?

Have you ever rethought your decision? Is it before or during the final concentration that you decide to leave?

I was always calm. After all, I’m fighting for something, not because I feel like it.

Is it tiring to have to explain yourself over and over? Can’t it ever be enough?

Yes [ríe]but we already know what we’re exposing ourselves to. Yes, it is tiring, but we are aware of it.

Did you feel more protected as a result? Do you think people who saw what was happening suddenly understood it?

At first, I felt like the whole truth would come out when they told you you were lying. Same thing, everything worked out fine in the end. The second thing I thought was: How sorry I am that I have to go through this. These are mixed feelings. I feel so sorry for my colleagues and especially Jenni. It’s sad that this has to happen so we can make changes.

And something beautiful came out of the difficult and challenging; Declaration of 81 football players from different categories and generations.

It had been a pretty tough day, a tough morning anyway, and I think we all had no doubts. Obviously we’re with Jenni, but after that morning it was clear something had to be done. We should all be proud that so many players are united.

Many changes have been made in women’s football. There are many facts. The bet on Barça was always open.

There is quite a difference because it is growing so fast… They bet a lot at club level but of course it is also true that there is very little difference at League level. It’s great that we’re going to both Camp Nou and Montjuïc at club level. It is an issue that the club values ​​very much, we try to reciprocate and I think we do. on November 19 [el Clásico]It will be a very, very beautiful day.

These differences were among the reasons that led you to strike on the first day of the League. How do you experience these inequalities, considering the privileged position you have as a Barça player?

This is disappointing because ultimately we want a competitive League. We want our colleagues to dedicate themselves to football and have every opportunity to do so. When it comes to facilities, we saw a pretty bad situation in Rayo a few years ago. So we want everyone to move up so that it is as competitive as possible and there are not too many differences. It is also covered on a medical level, such as for pregnancy or injuries. All of this falls within the scope of the agreement that has been negotiated for a year and with two weeks left until the League, people are complaining that we are going to go on strike. We have been discussing this issue for a year.

For Barça, the club lost one of its biggest goalkeepers, Markel Zubizarreta. How did you find out you were going? What did this mean for the locker room?

Markel, you have been a very important figure for us. He did a great job. In fact, the year I came, I came at the same time as him. I was always talking to him and trusting him. Luckily I managed to renew my contract with him and the truth is I’m happy about it. An important name is leaving us. Frankly, I hope everything goes very well for him because he’s a great employee and a great person, but I hope whoever comes in is up to the task. What was good about Markel? He knew us very well both off and on the field and that was very good.

It was renewed for the first time this season. Besides the titles, what makes this project unique?

The best team at the championship level. The Barça match is my game and this is what calls me on the level of work, friendship and values. It is a club where I feel valued and very supported. They supported me a lot in difficult situations like this summer. There are a lot of things, and it’s an ideal situation.

Last season, although difficult at first, ended with one of the best moments of your career. Have you noticed that people look at you more now, are more aware of you?

Yes, my role is the same as last year, a little higher up and more offensive, it is true that I noticed that all eyes were on me as I finished the season with two goals in the final. By nomination [al Balón de Oro] Moreover. It took me a while to get started. Frankly, I needed to adapt to a new position and started in disappointing situations. After Christmas I started feeling better. I finished the season with two goals in the final and I feel much more comfortable. I feel the same way this season, I continue with the same role, the same role, the same mentality.

You’ve always been more overlooked, how do you manage the attention?

I wear it as usual. In general, in recent years, the actors have become more well-known and every year they asked me for more photos, they got to know me more. So I think I’m in good shape as we move forward. It is also a source of pride for us that our players and women’s football are becoming more well-known every day.

Are you still surprised to see your name on fans’ jerseys? Or have you already started normalizing it?

We should be happy, we should be proud because we united women’s football. It’s been a short while and it still affects me. This both surprises and pleases me because, of course, this is new. They go to the men’s game and wear not only their own t-shirts, but also Alexia and Mapi’s t-shirts. This is what fascinates me; They don’t just wear Alexia’s shirt, they will know Alexia because they won two Ballon d’Or, Mapi, Aitana or Lucy who won the European Cup. There is an effect of fans wearing more players’ jerseys. They are club players from La Masia and that is a great thing.

Your first Ballon d’Or premiere awaits you on October 30. Are you looking forward to it?

Yes, yes, a lot! [ríe] Walking that red carpet… I was honestly surprised to be nominated. My agent, Carlota, aka my mother, called me… I was surprised but very happy.