The offensive power of FC Barcelona that intimidates its own and strangers largely passes through the boots of Caroline Graham Hansen (Oslo, Norway, February 18, 1995). The Norwegian lead, current silver ball, faces its seventh final of the Champions League and aspires to lift its fourth title. Before traveling to Lisbon he attended to Mundo Deportivo to tell us his feelings and how he lives these days before the grand final.
How are you a few days after the final?
Well, wanting to start. We work all year to reach the possible end, and when we are there so close, you want to play and enjoy the day.
You are one of the veteran, sixth season in Barça, but it seems that you have been a lifetime.
My six years here have been fast, but it is true that I also feel very at home, very joint with the game, with the team, and it is a pleasure to be here. I enjoy every day.
When you arrived here in August 2019, did you think that in 2025, at this point, you could be playing to win your fourth Champions with Barça?
No, I knew when I signed here, I knew that with Barça I would be able to win a Champions League. So one was clear that he could win, but the rest is like exciting. We have caught a very good time to play well, the team is fine, with very good players. In our joint team we have been able to create a team that can compete against anyone, and the rest has already been a dream, in plan to be in all Champions Finals and win three. So we hope that on Saturday we can add another.
Before entering the final, how do you get the silver ball?
It is the same, the truth. Nothing changes to me, because as I told you before, my goal is also that we can win more titles. For now we have won two and two are left to fight, so, I sincerely, nothing has changed me from within. I am the same, I think the same. I do not get above or below. I keep working and enjoying. I am here to play on the team and I am already enjoying.
How is the costume atmosphere these days?
People are wanting to compete. And of course, when the big moment comes, everyone is prepared, but does not change much, because everyone knows that to get here you have to work well every day, have good habits to improve every day, because if it is not impossible to reach the final when you compete against the best. And the truth, the atmosphere is the same, but a little touch of: “We are already, girls, is approaching to compete big.” But the truth, the habit, the attitude of each one is the same all year, and the only thing you notice is that we are going to do interviews this week to give previous to the final. The rest, people are always very well in training.
What do young women ask you?
Not much. I believe that they are also waiting for, if they have not been before, that they can have that experience we have had to win. And the truth, when they ask you something is to improve individually or help the team inside the field. The rest, I think they live to look at how we share the ones that have lived the most. And they try to enjoy, which is the important thing. If you cannot enjoy those moments, all the work you have done all year is not worth it. And it is simply to be calm and enjoy the moment.
Is the season very long until the month of May arrives?
Let's see, we have many teams … It's true that it's long. I think it has been long for the last years for the topic of ending in June this year again. If we could end Champions like the rest of the leagues, it would help a lot. But well, that is a topic of … does not influence our opinion, I think. And we have to do what it touches. But what does it long is to play in June, not play to the Champions League.
Should you be heard more?
We always say that. But in the end, they always say it is a political issue and we don't have much voice there.
At the beginning of the course there were some doubts about the team and then you arrive at the Champions Semifinals and put eight goals to Chelsea, one of the favorites, how is it explained?
It is explained with what you just asked me: if the seasons are long. We have a calendar to play for the selection in the middle of your vacation, it does not help. We play until mid -June, it doesn't help. And we have done that because we have arrived, luckily and for quality, to the last four Champions Finals. And there are many players who always go to the national team. Then you do not have vacation practically, during the last five or six seasons. And of course, I think people from outside are very accustomed to us to fly all year. It is impossible, physically and mentally. And this year, with the new coach, they have decided to leave us a little more step by step to recover within playing, because playing we had to play, because the League has started. And of course, from outside people he didn't like it so much, I suppose, what they have seen, we were winning, but not in the way people asked. That we can understand, because we have put the barrier of our very high standard. But from within we have been fine. Yes, you can say that as they have seen us from the outside, we suffer – among quotes – but from within we have continued to improve. And when we arrive at Wolfsburg and then to Chelsea, we put so many goals and we are so well … I think they are a good response we have worked very well all year and we have made some changes inside, in the style of play, by the new coach, that they have helped us very well. And we have simply improved as a team.
Was there a point of desire to claim before measuring Chelsea?
No, for me, my feeling was that it had nothing to do. I would say, it was more … this day we had a tactic or nuances that the coach had told us: “If we do this, this will happen.” And from the minute one happened the things he told us. Then the team was going to win, because each one felt comfortable in the game, because you knew exactly what was going to happen if you did what it played. And that is what made us fly that day. And that also gives you a lot of confidence. What we have done, the small changes we have made, has greatly improved us as a team when playing against the best.
What do you tell me about Arsenal?
They have done very well against Lyon, who was in the final last year, is one of the best teams in the Champions League history, or if not the best. And deserved to win that game. So it is an opponent that has a lot of quality. They have shown that they can compete, want to compete and can win against the best. So much respect, but we also want to teach that we are good enough to win this final.
How do you remember the moment when your companions kept you in Bilbao after being champions to the rhythm of 'Sweet Caroline'?
(laughs) Yes. It was a surprise, because we had won as a team. I think the song came out and they have already made the gesture for the song and for being … it was in plan too much, in plan: we are all that we have won. I feel that I did not deserve attention at that time because it is an attention of the team, which we have won as a team. But yes, with great humility they did it and with much love, because within the team we are like a family. So, with much love and humility for the gesture they made.
Can you overcome Bilbao in Lisbon?
Unforgettable is, because that moment will never happen again, just that moment, because it is what happened in Bilbao. But I think Lisbon, I hope and I think it will be very special too. We know that Barça's fans will come, they always come, they always support us to the fullest. And every big end has its thing. You cannot compare, you can simply enjoy and hope that we can thank everyone who comes, with a good game and joy within that.
Have you made any promise?
No. Simply enjoy and I really want to play and try to help the team to the fullest, that we can lift another cup. That is the goal.
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What message do you send to all the culés?
I hope you all enjoy Saturday with us and hope that we can take another Champions home. Let's fight for everything and thank you very much for always and support us
