Soccer.- Irene Paredes: "We're a super-ambitious team. We've learned, and we're going to prove it."

MADRID, 21 (EUROPA PRESS)

Barça Femení center back Irene Paredes warned this Thursday that they are "a super-ambitious team" that has "learned" after the "tough defeat" in the Champions League final at the end of last season, and they are "going to prove it" in a season they are entering after a "totally necessary" break following the European Championship.

"After a tournament like the European Championship, it was absolutely necessary to rest the body and, above all, the mind to regain strength. We've had two or three weeks that have served us well; we were eager to get started, and we could see that the team was already starting to roll. Today was the first day we trained with them, and we're happy to be back," the defender said in a statement to the club from Mexico.

The Blaugrana team is in Mexico to play two friendly matches against the Estrellas of the Liga BBVA MX Femenil, a selection of the best players in the Mexican competition, and Club América Femenil. "A team like ours always attracts attention. There are players who are living here because they're making a real commitment. For our part, it's always a pleasure to come and be treated as well as they are," she expressed her gratitude.

"I'm really struck by the fact that people so far from home follow us and know us so well. They're passionate about our team, they know practically everything, and they let you know. That surprises me, and I think it's also pleasing. On a personal level, and I think it's also the group's feeling, I want to thank them for making us feel at home and for continuing to follow us, because you can feel their warmth," he added.

Paredes celebrated the addition of young players to the team, who can "combine" with the "experience" in the locker room. "The young players are going to get minutes, they'll have opportunities, we've all had them at some point, they're super-prepared, and I'm sure we'll all have a good season," he hoped.

"We're a super-ambitious team. Losing the final last year hurt us a lot, but we're a team that bounces back from tough defeats. I'm sure we've learned and we're going to show that this year. I'm eager for it to start and to be able to aspire to everything," she concluded after last year's Champions League final defeat to Arsenal.