Irene Paredes, the Basque central defender of FC Barcelona, has made headlines this Thursday by giving an interview to TV3 in flawless Catalan. Until now, the Legazpi native had primarily conducted interviews in Spanish, but she has recently dedicated time to learning Catalan and confidently showcased her proficiency. Paredes expressed her feelings about this achievement, saying, “I’m a bit upset because I enjoy learning languages a lot and wanted to speak Catalan earlier, but it has been a bit challenging for me. Now I try to speak it sometimes.”
The interview coincides with preparations for the UEFA Women’s Champions League match against Chelsea, scheduled for this Thursday at Stamford Bridge. Paredes acknowledged the difficulty of facing the English team but demonstrated strong confidence in her squad’s capabilities. “We have played against them before. They have many players in every position, but we trust ourselves and believe we can put in a good performance,” she stated.
The Barça women’s team has been a shining example of embracing the Catalan language, with Paredes not being the only non-Catalan player to learn it; Portuguese player Kika Nazareth has also made strides in mastering the language. With a favorable track record against Chelsea in past encounters, Paredes recognizes that the English team is eager for redemption, yet she remains steadfast in saying that this Barça squad “always feels strong” and will not back down in such a challenging environment as Stamford Bridge.
The efforts of players like Paredes and Nazareth not only enhance their personal connections to the culture but also strengthen the team’s identity as they prepare for crucial matches, fostering a sense of unity both on and off the pitch.