Sonia Bermúdez says there is “a lot more Alexia to come”

“There is a lot more Alexia to come,” Sonia Bermúdez said of Alexia Putellas ahead of the match against the United States. The coach confirmed that the midfielder would play on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and reach 150 appearances for Spain. A starting place is not certain, however: “What is certain is that Alexia will play tomorrow, whether she starts or not.” Bermúdez called the milestone rare and noted that Alexia would be the first in Spain to reach it.

The coach described her as a role model both on and off the pitch, and an inspiration to younger generations. “Tomorrow we will have the chance to see her reach 150, and hopefully there will be many more,” she added, saying Alexia would decide for herself how many more to play. She also expressed the hope that the team would celebrate the milestone with a win.

Bermúdez framed the match as a test against high-level opponents with varied styles. In her view, the upcoming game will be very different from the one played in Washington. She stressed that the friendly label would not lessen the stakes: both teams would be looking to win, and she expected a tougher match.

Reflecting on Spain’s progress since the first meeting, she said the team had improved physically, while emphasizing that more work remained. Speaking about the previous match and Emma Hayes’s comments, she pointed to decisive details, better possession and chances created by both sides.