Cristiana Girelli is still hungry for future and trophies

Also Cristiana Girelli is among the protagonists of Back in the Game, the new format in which Jury Chechi explored stories of confidence, inner strength and humanity related to great Italian sportsmen but also to show business personalities. There was a presentation of the Sky program in Milan, and Sportal.it exclusively interviewed the captain of the national women’s soccer team.

She is among the top 20 female soccer players in the world, ranked 16th: how does it feel?

It’s immense pride, really. Already being in the top 30 was something unthinkable, let alone getting into the top 20. I’m very proud of everything I’ve done with Juventus and with the national team-these are experiences that definitely brought me this far.

There is also a lot of pride in seeing that, thanks to you, women’s soccer is being appreciated more and more…

Yes, absolutely. We don’t just play to win games. We also play for a much bigger, socio-cultural goal: to give little girls who are starting to kick their first kicks a chance to dream. We want them to be able to say, “I also want to be a female soccer player, I also want to feel those emotions.” That’s what drives us every day.

Has wearing the captain’s armband empowered you even more?

The armband is an honor, of course, and I hold on to it. But I don’t think it’s just that symbol that makes the difference. I think it’s the daily attitude, the example you set on the field, both to the younger ones and to your teammates, that defines your role. And that’s where I always try to give my best.

Will we see you on the court for a long time to come?

I don’t know. When the time comes to decide, it will be my head and my heart that will give me the answer.

You went through a complicated period in the national team. But then you came back united, with a new identity. What was the secret?

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The secret was the desire for revenge. When you go through a difficult time, you suffer, and those who experience it firsthand know this well. We went through complicated phases, like at the World Cup or the European Championship, where we did not live up to expectations. But already from the first results of this new era we have regained enthusiasm and important satisfactions. We are not stopping here: we want to continue growing, improving, experiencing new emotions. We are hungry for the future.