Mariona Caldentey eager to face Barcelona in Champions League final

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After a decade at Barcelona, Mariona Caldentey is embracing a new chapter at Arsenal — one filled with challenges, growth, and the possibility of a poignant reunion with her former club in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final.

In an interview with La Vanguardia, the Spanish forward opened up about her first season in English football, adapting to life in London, and the emotional complexity of potentially facing Barcelona in Lisbon.

Caldentey’s debut campaign at Arsenal has been anything but easy. The Gunners endured a turbulent start to the season, dropping key points in the Women’s Super League. But a mid-season managerial change helped galvanise the squad — and Caldentey has been at the heart of their resurgence.

“It’s true that we started the year a bit up and down,” she said. “We dropped quite a few points in the league. But since the coaching change, the team has been strong.”

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Off the pitch, her transition to life in the UK has come with its fair share of culture shocks — from driving mishaps to deciphering English slang.

“I struggled with English,” Caldentey admitted. “There are so many accents and everyone has their own expressions, but you speak it every day and that helps.”

The Spanish international also shared a lighthearted complaint familiar to many expats: the weather and food.

“Without a doubt, the winter and the food,” she laughed. “I used to ask all my friends and family to bring me ham. Now, with the new Brexit law, they can’t.”

Yet amid the changes, Caldentey remains focused on football and the journey ahead. With Arsenal set to face Lyon in the Champions League semifinals, a win would set up a potential final showdown with Barcelona — a club she still holds dear.

“I don’t know how I’d feel playing against them in Lisbon, but I’d sign for that right now,” she said. “I wouldn’t celebrate scoring a goal against Barça. I don’t think it would come out of me.”

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Even from afar, her bond with Barça remains intact. “Yes. At first, it felt a bit strange. Even now. But I like watching them, I want them to do well.”

Caldentey has taken on a more central role at Arsenal, adapting to a new tactical system and forming connections with new teammates. “I’m in a new team, with a different playing style and different teammates,” she said. “Everything is more even, and that helps me improve.”

Off the field, Caldentey has also celebrated a personal milestone — the release of her memoir “Mariona Caldentey: Cómo hemos cambiado la historia,” co-written with Laia Coll. The book charts her footballing journey and includes deeply personal moments, such as the loss of her father, who played a pivotal role in her life.

“My dad left us sooner than we would’ve liked,” she said. “He was the one who made me feel the passion for football.”

Caldentey also spoke openly about mental health, revealing that she began seeing a psychologist during a difficult period marked by injuries and controversy involving the Spanish national team.

“I started going to a psychologist when everything with the national team happened, which coincided with a time when I was dealing with a lot of injuries,” she said. “It helped me.”

Looking forward, Caldentey is proud of the strides she’s made — both professionally and personally. “We’ve helped bring about a broader social change for women in general and in women’s football in particular,” she said. “I’ve also learned that success has to be worked for. These have been years of resilience. We have to prove ourselves in order to be supported — not the other way around. That’s just how it is for us. And we’ll keep working.”

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