Aitana Bonmatí INTERVIEW! Leg break, Champions League, Barcelona, No. 1 ranking & more! ¦ ESPN FC

Aitana thanks for speaking with ESPN We're here with some great news because for the third time ever She's number one on the ESPN FC list of women — and this is a well-deserved honor How do you win for the third time in a row Thank you very much This is the third time I've had this issue lately That's why I'm so grateful to ESPN He’s had a very very beautiful three years so I’ m deeply grateful to everyone who’s entrusted me What do you think you need to have to be so consistent so resilient to win year after year Because being the best one year is hard But three years ago it was incredible Yes I always say one of the things I have best is It's your mindset and ambition I believe you can become a good footballer But what drives you every day to become better is mindset and ambition I believe I have a very strong mindset and a strong ambition to get better every year What I believe is different this year is that in previous years Your team has nearly won everything This year has been a bit worse clearly because you've had success but also the final in Lisbon the euros How important are you despite these disappearances Are you still the best Yes well the first thing is that with the club we've won three titles and we need to appreciate that I also kept going through the finish line over and over again Same with the national team right We managed to reach the final and sometimes it's the little details that can make the difference—win or lose It's part of football it's part of sport But the most important thing is the process I think right And I'm lucky to be on a team that makes it to the final every year So you can win you can lose but I think it's nice that people appreciate the process don't you Well whether we win or lose I think we lose over details don't we ESPN features Aitana Bonmatí Alexia Putellas Mariona Caldantei number 6 Patrick Guijarro umber 10 Eva Peyor You could potentially win all the titles right It's about the team it's about the team isn't it It's not about a single player because we play a sport where we must play as a team therefore we must value the team This is the generation we've had in recent years Of course you mentioned earlier that this is part of football part of football part of the game as well as what happened to you— this injury likely the hardest thing to have happened in your career In what moment are you right now in your recovery Well as you say it's the first serious injury I've had in my career I've always had minor issues before one month one month and a half but not four or five months like with surgery This is my first time in this situation but now I'm choosing to look at it positively I take this moment to relax to reflect on myself and find calm The past few years especially the last five have been both difficult and extraordinary for me and I think this injury could bring me the relaxation I’ve lacked in recent years but I see it as another goal—one different from winning trophies or anything like that It's about recovering well and coming back stronger than before So you're approaching it with a very positive mindset like now when previously it was all about playing traveling training nothing else so you have some time now to think again so that's the positive thing about this challenge now Yeah I try to look at it this way because otherwise f I take the negative aspect Maybe I suffer more but I try to focus on the positive aspect —that it's like finally doing things I never had time for Also to calm down and have a different goal—something other than the ones I have when I'm training or competing—it 's a goal for me a goal for my recovery o come back to the pitch better and stronger than I was before Of course that's the most important thing—recovery It's the most important thing but when it comes to talking about goals Do you have a goal or a dream—something I’d want to come back for whether it’s the semifinals or Oslo Even if it’s just for you a dream made for you At this point I'm solely focused on my recovery My goal is to return before the season ends and I believe it's achievable since I'm not dealing with the worst possible injury So my only goal right now is to be back before the end of this season Exactly no pressure—just focus on the process Speaking of the Champions League I suppose it's been tough but of course you've enjoyed playing and seeing your team adapt to this new format has been incredible —the team has been absolutely amazing in it Yes I think we as a group had an incredible first part of the Champions League because it's a new format We've faced many new and different teams and we're currently leading our group so everyone has done an outstanding job And I think it’s coming more in a few months We’ve just learned that in the quarterfinals you’ll face either Paris FC or Real Madrid Would you like El Clásico in the quarterfinals Of course I always enjoy El Clásico Playing against Madrid is a pleasure and a fantastic match to watch I don't think I'm going to make it but then again I suppose we have to go with the better of the two options and you might also dodge the toughest opponents We could call it that—like OEL Arsenal on the other side—so it would be nice right We'll see how you turn out but to be back in another final after Lisbon to play in Oslo and to be able to recover from that Yes of course the main goal this season is to reach the final and if possible win it I think it's a long road but it's certainly possible So aside from football you mentioned you now have some time on your hands because of this injury What do you enjoy doing besides football now that you have some free time For instance spending time with my family—I never seem to have time for them I'm now living with my uncles Lili and Pera who are based in Barcelona and it's better for me to stay close to La Ciutat Esportiva and to the medical center The other members of my family are coming to visit me along with my friends I'm spending a lot of time with my family But I never do that at 27 years old So well it's nice I think I'm learning to be more patient because I can't do anything on my own I need someone to handle all the tasks So this situation I believe teaches me valuable lessons such as being patient with my family and friends Stay calm stay calm because I'm a very active person on the pitch but off the pitch as well —I'm never still on the sofa I'm always needing to be doing something And now I'm doing almost nothing just a few things And I can also focus more on other projects For example my camp my camp in my town and also the USA camp in Los Angeles and San Diego So I'm focused on this and it's nice Yeah and were you working on a museum too in Rivas So you're working on that project too right Yeah we are I don't know how to say Ayuntamiento The main town with the town hall Yeah you're doing that Yeah with the main town we're considering creating a museum to showcase not only all the achievements but also every path I had to take to reach this point because it's a small town So I want to share it with everyone and with all the people who can come to my town and know my special place Of course So just one final message to Barça fans Spanish fans and football fans everywhere: Do you want to show your gratitude for their support Of course you do You're hoping to return I suppose Yes of course Thank you everyone for always cheering me on for I don't know how to put it But supporting means more And of course I'll be back stronger than ever