Sandra Paños has arrived in Mexico with a single goal: to continue collecting trophies. The Spanish goalkeeper, who has a winning mentality, previously won every title she competed for with Barcelona. Now, she aims to conquer the Liga MX Femenil with Club América, and she’s determined not to miss this opportunity. Aware of the challenge it took to reach the Clausura 2025 Grand Final, Paños is committed to ensuring her team emerges victorious against Pachuca.
Reflecting on her journey, Paños expressed, “When I came here, it was with utmost ambition. Upon arrival, I realized the difficulty of reaching a final. América always aims to be in finals and lift trophies. Thankfully, we have the chance to do it now. Many of my teammates have told me it is something very special; you don’t experience a final easily. This will be my first final, and it’s a match full of emotion.”
Six months ago, a series of errors led to America’s elimination in the semifinals, one of which was made by Paños. However, with renewed energy and the confidence of her teammates, she is optimistic about overcoming past adversities. “We have improved not just individually, but collectively as a team. We had set the goal of being in the final and we accomplished that through hard work and involvement from all the teammates. The more you believe in something, the more you create it.”
Despite facing several injuries to key players such as Espinoza, Da Silva, and Luna, Paños believes that these absences will not hinder the team. Instead, the players are utilizing this situation as motivation to perform even better for their missing teammates. “We have dealt with many absences throughout the tournament and, regardless of who is on the field, we’ve stepped up for the team. They have a complete roster, with many players capable of making a difference. We know we have to be at our best to prevent them from creating good scoring opportunities.”
In the regular season, América lost 2-1 to Pachuca at Hidalgo Stadium, leaving them with a sense of unfinished business that they hope to resolve over the upcoming two-legged final. Paños remarked, “We know what Pachuca is about. The game we had here during the regular tournament was very close; it could have even ended in a draw. We hit many posts, and we come in with great determination. Football always gives second chances, and this is something we wanted, to face them again because we were left with a bittersweet taste.”
The Ciudad de los Deportes has become a stronghold for the Americanistas, particularly highlighting the growth of the women’s team, which has cultivated a unique identity showcased during the semifinal packed with fans against Chivas. Paños looks forward to seeing the stadium filled with blue-and-yellow jerseys for the finals and is determined not to disappoint the passionate fans who have supported her for months.
“The last tournament, we struggled to close out games at home. We focused on finishing as high as possible. Our first objective was to secure first place, and we achieved that; the second was to reach the final, and now we are here. Closing at home is fantastic, and the support from our fans has been amazing. The atmosphere we’ve created is incredible. Home matches feel different than those played away. We are very excited; thanks to them, we are where we are now, and there is very little time left to lift that trophy.”
This article not only highlights Paños’s ambition but also the unity and resilience of the América women’s team as they prepare to battle for the championship.