"In one game here I defend more than in a whole season with Barça"

BarcelonaMartina Fernández (Ordis, 2004) She had to pack her bags in the summer to leave Barça. After a six-month loan to Everton, the English team signed her permanently, where she is a regular starter in the center of defense. "When I arrived on loan in January of last year, I wanted every possible minute, to grow as a footballer and improve in areas I couldn't at Barça, like defending in the box and certain aspects that aren't as prevalent in Barcelona. But my goal was always to return to Barça, because it's my dream, it's where I want to end up playing, and I'll work hard to try and make it happen."

A wish that couldn't be fulfilled. "As the season was drawing to a close, talking with the manager here, he wanted me to stay permanently. At first, I was a little apprehensive about leaving Barça permanently, but I think it was the best thing for me. The atmosphere here is incredible, and I'm very happy." Things I felt with Barça in seven years here." However, the food in the UK isn't the same as in Catalonia: "That's what I miss the most. Here, everything is made with sauces, it's very spicy, and they don't have good ham. It's true that the weather is very cold now, and we've had snow, but nothing stops here. Everyone goes about their normal day. It doesn't usually rain much during the winter; I'm already used to the tramontana wind," says Fernández.

In the English league, there's increasingly more talent trained in Catalonia and Spain: Mariona Caldentey and Laia Codina at Arsenal; Jana Fernández, Lucía Corrales, and Maria Pérez at London City; Natalia Arroyo at Aston Villa... "It's very professional." "In Spain they've now implemented VAR, which we don't have, but I think a lot of playing time is lost with the reviews and it slows down the pace of the game," he says. In England, the competition is much more physical, with more daring teams that leave space to play a more direct style. "Barça often plays against lines of five or six in defense. Here, you play against Chelsea and you might only have three players in defense. This also adds an extra level of competitiveness that the Spanish league doesn't have. I think I defend more in one match here than I do in a whole season with Barça."

A commitment that is evident in the results. Since that season, Goodison Park has been the new home of Everton's women's first team. With the men's team moving to a new stadium, the club has opted to lend the historic venue to the team managed by Brian Sorensen. "The people of the city are responding very well in terms of attendance at our matches. I've also been fortunate enough to play in magnificent stadiums like Anfield and Villa Park."

Everton is currently battling to avoid relegation. "We had a run of games without any points, and it's tough, because after working all week, you might go to a direct rival's ground, you deserve all three points, and you only end up taking one. But both the team and the manager are very positive, we've made a lot of signings, and the good stuff will take time. We're working hard for it."

One of the pioneers of La Masia for women

During her time at Barça, Martina Fernández had the privilege of being one of the first nine residents of La Masia, in August 2021. "It was a lifesaver. An hour and a half to get there and an hour and a half to get back every day is tough. Living in a five-star hotel. They treat you perfectly and help you a lot to grow as a footballer," explains the player, who until then had to drive to Barcelona from the Empordà region for training.

All of that changed when the day of her debut arrived at Levante's stadium. "I wasn't nervous, I really enjoyed it. Besides, I'll always remember it because my favorite and lucky number is two, and I made my debut on February 2nd, 2022. So I also think it happened for a reason," she says. Ordis emphasizes how lucky she has been to wear the Barça colors: "You have a responsibility because you're defending the best badge in the world, but you also know that wearing the Barça shirt is a privilege. I think just wearing that shirt makes you give your all, and with the number of excellent players there are, it's very easy."