Meetings, 'e-mails' and coexistence: the inside story of the return of three of the 15 'rebels' of the women's team

For several weeks there has been speculation about the possibility that some of the players who once signed a statement announcing that they were resigning from the women's team could return to Jorge Vilda's squad.. Then (September 23) the rebels said that they were not psychologically prepared to be summoned. Well, nine months later, several of them say that they are psychologically prepared.. But how many have asked to return? and how many came back? Was there any that has not asked to return? Let's go in parts.

How many had asked to return? According to sources close to this matter, there have been around a dozen who have said that they do want to play with Spain.. How many have returned? The doubt was resolved this Monday by the coach. And there were only three of the 15 (20%) that are on the pre-list for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Because it's not even the final list. It is a pre-list of 30 footballers, and that will be reduced to 23 on June 30.

Ona Batllé, Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey are the three reincorporations after more than nine months of controversy. The three of them have sent an email to the Federation announcing that they were in a position to be summoned again, an essential condition demanded by the heads of the Federation. Why only three if there were some more who wanted to return?

less belligerent

This is due to two reasons: first, that there are players who during these months have known how to make up for the casualties of the 15; and, second, that in recent months there have been several meetings between the coach and some of these players from which the final decision has been made.. In those meetings, those who return have been much less belligerent than some of their companions, and that, of course, helps theirs.

It seems that for now the conflict has calmed down, but still there are those who remain firm and do not want to return to the national team. This is the case of Mapi León, Claudia Pina and Patri Guijarro, the leaders, together with Bonmatí, of that rebellion. None have requested their return to the team. Nor have Sandra Paños, Lola Gallardo, Ainhoa Moraza, Nerea Eizaguirre, Amaiur Sarriegi, Leila Ouahabi, Laia Aleixandri, Lucía García and Andrea Pereira entered the list.. Some of them did declare themselves selectable.

The one who has returned, despite the fact that she supported her colleagues, although she did not sign the statement, is Alexia Putellas. The current Ballon d'Or has achieved a place in the pre-list after several months out of the national team due to his injury, which allowed him to maintain a somewhat ambiguous position in this matter. For Vilda, the reinstatement of the player is “great news”. We have spoken with her and everything she has transmitted we like a lot ». Irene Paredes has also returned, the captain who, like Putellas, supported her teammates (in fact, she was the one who offered that curious press conference where they came to request the resignation of the coach in the concentration of the month of September).

“Convinced that there will be calm”

Without a doubt, this call-up has been the most complicated for Vilda, who has had to find a balance between talent and coexistence, because that, coexistence, is another of the keys to the return of that minimum percentage of players.. It should be remembered that when those involved decided to leave the national team, they were, behind closed doors, especially critical of the colleagues who had not supported them. That wasn't a problem before, but now that some are rejoining, maybe the atmosphere isn't the best.

This is something that the coach knows, and that is why he did not hesitate to clarify to the media that what he is going to look for in the face of the World Cup, which begins on July 20, is “a united group. I am convinced that there will be calm, harmony and tranquility. That's why some could return and others could not, although he had backtracked by also sending the email.

Another key to this matter has been Luis Rubiales, from the beginning supporting Vilda. No loopholes. This protection has made Vilda feel “supported from day one and with the confidence of the entire Federation. In addition, many colleagues have been in hard times.