Newly-crowned Women's Footballer of the Year Alexia Putellas has rejected suggestions Spain's on-strike players are rebels and says her team need to be able to focus on football.
Putellas, 29, is closing in on a return to action with club Barcelona after been out with an ACL injury she sustained last July prior to the Euros. But her national team remain in chaos, following qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup last September, 15 Spain players made themselves unavailable for selection, citing the "situation" around La Roja as the reason.
Manager Jorge Vilda has continued to omit the players and is yet to recall them only a few months away from the tournament. Putellas was not one of the original signatories making herself unavailable, but has backed her teammates and called on the Spanish federation to resolve the situation.
"We are not rebels," she told AS. "It's exhausting having to constantly claim improvements to perform better. I don't think you have to put adjectives of this type.
"It is a problem between the players and the Federation. Private conversations have been leaked and this situation does not benefit anyone.
"We want the players to be able to focus one hundred percent on performing. It's exhausting having to constantly claim upgrades. The leaders should improve our conditions without having to ask all the time.
"These concerns are not only in Spain, it is something general. Canada, Colombia, before that the United States - it is a theme that is being repeated a lot."
Spain's European neighbours France have suffered a similar issue, with leading players declaring themselves unavailable to play, although manager Corinne Diarce was sacked on Thursday.
Putellas will be desperate to return to peak fitness and form before the World Cup and revealed she is hopeful of playing in the Champions League before the end of the season, with a huge clash with Lyon set for the semi-finals if both sides get through.
“I really want to play against Lyon," she added. "The last memory was very bad.
"It was our worst game of the season and they played one of their best games. But first there is Roma and we have to take it seriously."
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