Putellas ‘queen of Barcelona’ in historic UWCL secure

Lucy Bronze has said Alexia Putellas showed why she is the “queen of Barcelona” after the two-time Ballon d’Or winner came off the bench to ranking the 2nd objective in Barcelona‘s 2-0 Champions League closing secure over Lyon on Saturday.

Putellas fired dwelling in stoppage time after Aitana Bonmatí had opened the scoring earlier in the 2nd half of as Barça sealed attend-to-attend Champions League trophies, a success the competitors for a third time in four years.

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“Alexia is the captain of the workers and she’s the queen of Barcelona for a reason,” England defender Bronze instructed DAZN after the game.

“She’s repeatedly so assured in the workers and she showed this present day why she is a attend-to-attend Ballon d’Or winner.

“She’s purchased the quality to attain that in the closing minute of the Champions League closing when we delight in been up against it on the cease and it staunch sealed the secure for us. It changed into as soon as improbable.”

Barça — who boasted the lion’s portion of the 50,827 attendees at San Mamés in Bilbao, which changed into as soon as a file for a Females’s Champions League closing — had by no intention beaten French champions Lyon in four previous attempts.

Two of those defeats came in Champions League finals, in 2019 and 2022, and there changed into as soon as a feeling they important to beat the eight-time European champions to with out a doubt set up themselves as one among the best teams ever.

“We knew that is what we wanted to be a club that in actuality made history,” Bronze said.

“It be onerous to secure it as soon as, but to attain it attend-to-attend, Lyon showed how sophisticated it is and this workers has at closing performed that. I believe about we trip down in history as one among the best teams in Europe.”

Success in Europe follows a home treble — F Leaguethe Queen’s Cup and the Spanish Supercopa — as Barça secure the quadruple for the first time in the club’s history.

whores, who signed a peculiar two-year contract earlier this weeksaid a success attend-to-attend European trophies and all four trophies changed into as soon as the target space initially of the campaign.

“Our objective changed into as soon as to secure four out of four,” the Spain worldwide instructed TVE. “After the Champions League closing closing season, we said we wanted to be right here in Bilbao due to we knew what it can presumably well mean.

“We can’t request for the relaxation. Now we delight in got done every little thing we wanted. Every minute of sacrifice has been worth the difficulty — and I would possibly presumably well verbalize that no longer after the game, but before, staunch coming into in the stadium, with the total make stronger we had right here, it changed into as soon as worth it.”

Ballon d’Or proprietor Bonmatí furthermore praised the role of the travelling make stronger in the north of Spain.

“It be improbable … staunch improbable,” she instructed TVE. “It feels esteem Camp Nou, [the Olympic Stadium in] Montjuic or the Johan [Cruyff Stadium]. All we are able to verbalize is thanks to the fans, we esteem them lots.

“No, [winning the quadruple has not sunk in yet]. I’m on cloud nine correct now. It is an historic day which we are able to take into account forever.”

Victory over Lyon furthermore signals the cease of an generation for coach Jonatan Giráldez, who will be half of NWSL facet Washington Spirit subsequent month.

Giráldez leaves after a success 10 trophies out of 12 in the route of three years in price, reaching the Champions League closing in each and each of those seasons.

“It be not likely [to imagine a better send off],” he instructed TVE. “It be a dream day. It is sophisticated to point with phrases the sensation I delight in correct now.

“It is this type of special moment. I’m soft with the total avid gamers, the workers and fans that delight in been right here. It is one among happiest days of my lifestyles.

“I’m hoping the night goes on for a protracted time,” Giráldez persisted. “That we are able to journey it and celebrate with all individuals who’s right here due to it be an unforgettable day.”

Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor expressed disappointment at her facet falling on the closing hurdle of a European campaign that had seen them attain San Mamés with out tasting defeat.

“It be obviously an infinite disappointment. We knew that it changed into as soon as going to be an infinite trouble this night, that it changed into as soon as going to be a tough sport against a mountainous workers. Congratulations to Barcelona on a success this closing. They seem to be a mountainous workers, we would delight in important to play an ideal sport but, above all, we must always delight in been extra surroundings friendly in attack in define to win a larger result, ” Bompastor said.

“I’m soft with my avid gamers’ lumber to the closing. This lumber has been unprecedented, and so that they delight in labored lots in define to be right here this night. We will digest this disappointment tonight and survey what we’ve to work on in define to advance attend attend with the ambition of a success this Champions League.”

The closing would possibly presumably well furthermore be in a space to be Bompastor’s closing sport accountable for Lyon, with a source telling ESPN that the outdated France midfielder is shut to changing Emma Hayes as Chelsea manager.