How do you picture the final, and if you score, do you have a celebration planned?
Pina: "I think in a match like this, if I score, the celebration will come naturally. The most important thing is to start the game well, for the team to be in a good place, and for us to play our game, as I always say. It will surely be a tough match, but a beautiful one to watch."
You’re experiencing one of the best moments of your career. How do you see this Champions League final - do you expect to start, or come on as a super-sub around the 60th minute to change the game?
"What I hope is that, whenever I come on, it’s at the moment the team needs me. If it’s at the start, great; if it’s as a substitute in the second half, then so be it. I’ll try to be at my best and in top condition, as you said, to help the team in whatever situation arises on the pitch."
You mentioned the match would be complicated. Where do you think the main difficulty will be, especially since Jonathan also knows the team very well? What will be the toughest thing against this Lyon side?
"I think we need to stay calm with the ball, play our game, and not get drawn into a high-speed, end-to-end match, because I think that would suit them - they have very physical and very fast players. The key is to control the game at all times, try to attack, and keep possession as much as possible."
A few years ago, when you faced OL Lyonnes, you’d say, 'Wow, this is going to be tough'. Could it be the other way around now, and thanks to your hard work and good performances, they’re now the ones saying: “Oh, we have to play Barca”?
"I think we’re both great teams. In the end, to reach the Champions League final, you have to get through a lot of tough matches throughout the year. I think they’ve had a very good season, and so have we. For now, they’re still the queens of Europe, so I think they’ll be a tough opponent for us. We beat them in a final, so I imagine they’re thinking about that too. I hope it’s a great match and that everyone enjoys it."
After celebrating the league title, Pere Romeu pointed out that your importance to the team goes beyond scoring goals. We know you love scoring, but how does it feel to have your coach trust your overall game so much?
"He’s shown it to me all season, because whether I scored or not, I played a lot. He’s made it clear by talking to me often. So I’m calm and happy with that trust, and for Saturday’s match, whatever happens, as I said, I’ll be at 100%."
You’ve already played in many finals. What has changed in you from your early days to now? How do you approach this final differently?
"It’s true that before, I was part of the squad but didn’t really play, or I’d only come on for the last five minutes. Now I’m playing more, and I feel a bit calmer in that sense. And as I always say, the main thing is to be ready when the moment comes and to give everything to help the team."
What memories do you have of Jonatan Giraldez as a coach, and how is he different from Pere Romeu?
"I think they’re totally different coaches in terms of personality, but in terms of football, I think both love having the ball: the Barca style, in both cases, they’re very good at that. He gave me more playing time at Barca, even though later I played less again. We get along well, and that’s it."
Is there a message you keep repeating to each other this week, as the final approaches?
"To be at 100%, to train hard, and to make sure that in video analysis and everything we do on the pitch, we do it to the maximum so we’re in the best possible shape on the big day."
From the outside, you seem like a very close-knit group. What’s the secret to this locker room, and how important is this cohesion before such a big match?
"I think, in the end, having a lot of young players brings a lot of joy before training and matches, and the more experienced ones keep us focused, especially in important moments. I think this team is in a great flow, enjoying what we do, and that’s very important. I also think that no matter who plays, we’re all happy because we all feel part of the group.
"That’s essential to get through the end of the season. And whatever happens on Saturday, we know we’re a team, and no matter who plays, we have to win, no matter what."
When a match is stuck, what goes through the mind of a player like you?
"For me, it’s about continuing to do the same thing I always do: try to get on the ball, be a bit aggressive, especially near the box, and try to shoot as much as possible."
