England international Lucy Bronze lauded Barcelona’s accomplishment, declaring that the team will “go down in history as one of the best teams in Europe” after they successfully defended their Women’s Champions League title. This victory, a 2-0 win over Lyon in the final held in Bilbao on Saturday, secured a quadruple of trophies for Barcelona this season.
Bronze, who joined Barcelona in 2022 after winning three consecutive Champions League titles with Lyon, emphasized the significance of this achievement. “We knew that was what we needed – to be a club that really made history,” Bronze told DAZN. “It’s not easy. It’s hard to win it once. To do it back-to-back, Lyon showed how difficult it is and this team has finally done that.”
In the match, Bronze and her England teammate Keira Walsh started, while club captain Alexia Putellas made a significant impact as a late substitution. Putellas, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, had recently returned from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and had just signed a new contract with the club. Her goal in stoppage time confirmed Barcelona’s victory after Aitana Bonmati’s deflected strike had initially given them the lead. Bronze praised Putellas, saying, “[Putellas is] the captain of the team, she’s the queen of Barcelona for a reason.”
Walsh, who joined Barcelona from Manchester City for a world-record fee in 2022, expressed the team’s determination to win all four trophies, calling it a perfect send-off for manager Jonatan Giraldez, who will be joining Washington Spirit in the summer. “It felt like a home game so to do it in front of our fans was really special,” added Walsh. “For [Giraldez] to go out like this was amazing. These girls are special.”
Walsh also highlighted Putellas’ crucial role in the team’s success. “To go 2-0 up was massive and I think it made it more special that it was her. You could see what she means to this team, to this city, to this club. We’re all really happy she’s signed [a new deal]. It’s Alexia Putellas.”
Barcelona’s triumph not only solidifies their place in European football history but also sets a high standard for future teams aiming to replicate their success.
