Thread by @BarcaFem

🗣 SPIEGEL Sports | Lieke Martens: "This is really good football. I was a fan of FC Barcelona from an early age, and as a girl I always wore Barça shirts. "

Q: Under Johan Cruyff, Koeman scored the goal of the club's first Champions League victory in 1992. Now, you initiated it as well?

Martens: "Well, you know beforehand that a lot can happen in a final, but I was full of confidence, the whole team was full of confidence." [1/2]

Martens: " You could tell that we wanted to press the button straight away to show Chelsea straight away that there is only one team that is here to win - and that's us." [2/2]

Q : This determination had been evident for weeks. You lost the final 1: 4 against Lyon in 2019 and did not finish the Spanish league as champions for the fourth time in a row that year.

Martens: " When I came four years ago, the Champions League was a goal. " [1/2]

Martens: "I saw the possibility, but of course it takes time. For example, I learned a lot here. Every single player has gotten better. And then at some point you reach the point where everyone is so good that it all pays off. It's fantastic to be part of it." [2/2]

Q: What was the key to the change?

Martens: "The club's ambitions. I believed in them, even if a lot of people said when I moved, 'Why are you going to Barcelona?' Of course, Barcelona were a big club, but back then there were bigger clubs in women's football."

Q: Did the special relationship between the Netherlands and Barcelona also play a role?

Martens: "Yes. I was a fan of Barcelona from an early age and as a girl I always wore Barça shirts. When I signed here a dream came true. But as a player you have ambitions above all. " [1/3]

Martens: "It was clear to me that we wouldn't win everything right away. It's a process, and that's what I like. 80.85 percent of the team are still the same as they were four years ago. They are based in Spain and only a few players have been replaced. " [2/3]

Martens: "So we got to know each other better and better and better and better use the qualities of the others." [3/3]

Q: At the provisional end of this process, you will not only win the Champions League, but also play beautiful football. Recognize more, so many say, than in the current men's.

Martens: "When I came I knew of course what kind of football was being played here." [1/2]

Martens: " The same as in the Dutch national team. A style that suits me. Look at the goals in the final, especially the third one: this is really good football. It is so nice that we have implemented it again even under the greatest pressure." [2/2]

Q: You then saw pictures of the award ceremony on TV: You languish on the trophy like a loved one and then give it a big kiss.

Martens: "Compliments to the cameraman for how he captured this. I didn't even know that I was looking at the trophy like that. " [1/2]

Martens: "I guess I was just so happy to see it. I want to keep the video and the memory forever. As you can see, a big dream came true, it was pure emotion." [2/2]

Q: Did it feel even better because you also have difficult times behind you?

Martens: "We have a lot of matches, every girl has been outside. But of course, against Manchester City (in the two quarter-finals, ed.)" [1/2]

Martens: " I would have liked to have played from the start and didn't have it, of course you're disappointed. But against Paris Saint-Germain I got my chance again and showed what I can bring." [2/2]

Q: In the last few days you and your team have been the talk of the town in Barcelona and even pushed the men. Women's football is in the spotlight like never before.

Martens: "When I sit down in a café, people come to congratulate me. " [1/3]

Martens: "My neighbors have hung small pieces of paper on my door: that they are very proud to be my neighbors. It's all great and I think we deserve it too. We put hard work into it, even harder after losing the 2019 final because we saw we had to do more. " [2/3]

Martens: "Even in a pandemic when we couldn't play for months, we've come back so strong now." [3/3]

Q: Do you have the feeling that women's football has reached its peak not only in Barcelona, ​​but also in general?

Martens: "I think so, but we should always strive higher and higher. " [1/2]

Martens: "This is what the club needed and what it deserves because it has done a lot for women's football: giving us all opportunities, treating us the same as everyone else." [2/2]

Q: This year, four of the big men's clubs that have grown in size made it to the semi-finals. The trend is clear?

Martens: "It's a transition phase because for a long time many big clubs didn't want to invest in women's football, and a few years later they do. " [1/2]

Martens: ". Because everyone is doing it, because everyone believes in it. These brands, these big clubs, are very good for women's football. As long as you don't compare women's football with men's football." [2/2]

Q: Why shouldn't you?

Martens: "A lot of people do it, and then it always comes: the game is not that fast, the men are stronger. That's not fair. We don't do that in tennis or other sports either. Why still in football? " [1/2]

Martens: "Whoever sees our games, whoever saw our first half in the final, simply has a good time watching football." [2/2]

Q: You could also make the comparison the other way around: In women's football, there are fewer swallows, cheating, and discussions with the referee. Will he be able to maintain this naturalness if more and more money comes into play?

Martens:" I think so. " [1/2]

Martens: "Sure, I don't know what the next generation will do. But in any case we want to be so natural, more open in dealing, friendly with people, and we want to stay that way when the level gets higher and higher." [2/2]

Q: The Dutch association announced last week that mixed teams will be allowed in all amateur football from next season. Another Step?

Martens: "That's cool. If you want to do that, you should be able to do it" [1/2]

Martens: " And then maybe there will come a point where there will be no more comparison. I played with the boys until the age of 16 and enjoyed it. But…" [2/2]

Q: Do you prefer to play for women?

Martens: "I like the women’s talk (laughs) . I like it more than the men's conversations. But who knows, maybe a few women in the future will like that too. "