Mapi León: "It was shown that women's football only had to know how to sell it"

At first, he doesn't really want to talk.

She is tired, she feels that she is repeating her analysis and she only wants to think about the ball.

She can't, of course.

The Spanish team is preparing for Euro 2022 in England and María Pilar León, Mapi (Zaragoza, 27 years old), is one of its references.

She is inside the field, but also outside.

She was the first player for whom a transfer was paid in the League and also a pioneer in professional football in Spain to come out of the closet.

With the conversation underway, Mapi already forgets about the clock.

She is fun, outspoken and doesn't hide.

Soccer player, a bit of an artist -in her time she paints and tattoos-, always charismatic, Mapi León attends EL PAÍS before the premiere of La Roja this Friday against Finland (6:00 p.m., La 1).

Ask.

What did you do in the last Pride?

Response.

I stayed resting.

I missed it.

We haven't stopped, really.

Before the Euro we had a lot of things with

and sponsors, plus the interviews and of course training and gym.

Once in England, you live only for and for the competition.

But the preview was pretty busy.

Q.

Does it bother you?

R.

No, I understand it as part of my job.

But that does not mean that she has ended up dead.

Because of that, I didn't even have time to go to Pride.

If I would have liked?

Of course, but I'm not much of a party animal either.

In fact, I'm not much of a party animal.

I wouldn't have gone for the fun, but for what it represents.

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P.

You have fought a lot for change.

Is that fight near the end?

R.

You have to keep working, of course.

But are we talking about soccer or non-soccer?

P.

If you want, we start with the non-football.

R.

There are doors that are opening, which, obviously, in women's football are carried out in a more natural way.

Q.

Why obviously?

R.

I am sure that it is carried out in a more natural way than in the rest of sports.

And let's not talk about the male.

P.

Are your social networks an example [you have published photos with your partner, the Norwegian and Barça player, Ingrid Engen]?

R.

When perhaps I was not so sure of my partner, I was a reserved person with my private life.

But is that now...

Q.

Are you in love?

A.

[Laughs].

When you feel like me now, it doesn't matter.

Q.

Will an image like that of Pernille Harder and Magdalena Eriksson in the last World Cup be seen in the Euro [the captain of Sweden finished the match against Canada in the round of 16, approached the stands and gave them a kiss, symbolic today , Danish style]?

A.

Good question [laughs].

Namely…

P.

And in football, how much road remains to be covered?

R.

There is a long way to go.

In the end, things are achieved.

But we are still far away.

P.

Are you saying it because of the difference in bonus money that UEFA distributes in the women's Euro (16 million) compared to what it distributed in the men's (317)?

R.

To walk, you first have to crawl and everyone knows this.

No one talks about having to equalize.

I'm not saying that.

But little by little we have to continue growing and we have to be given visibility.

We have to value our effort and what women's football generates when given an opportunity.

Q.

For example?

R.

For example, when the Camp Nou was opened for us.

The first time it was the host, but the second time it was the

.

Q.

Why do you say that?

R.

Because, in the end, there was always the typical phrase: "We are going to open it for the female and people will not come".

And that even made us doubt ourselves.

But when they opened it a second time it filled up again.

So, there were no more doubts.

It was shown that women's football only had to know how to sell it.

P.

Do the institutions look the other way?

A.

I don't know.

I am not an expert.

I do not control prizes or premiums.

I don't know if it takes a lot of effort.

What I do believe is that it is probably like everything in life.

If the people who have more made a minimum effort, those who have less would have a little more.

But perhaps the person who generates the most is not interested in that happening.

They may very legitimately feel that they have worked for what they have and that they deserve it.

P.

Do you say it for the footballers?

A.

I'm not saying this for anyone in particular.

Q.

People who know you say that you are more noble than cool.

R.

I consider myself noble because I like to go face to face.

I am with people as I like them to be with me.

And in the field I stand out for the intensity, but I never go to a play with evil.

I will never give.

Unless they gave me four in a row...

P.

Do you remember the first call with Spain?

R.

I think it was in the sub-17, is it a bit ugly that I don't remember?

P.

No. Tell me about football.

Is it an advantage for Spain that the base of the team is from Barcelona?

R.

An advantage, without a doubt.

Why could it be a disadvantage?

We already know each other.

Man, it would be another thing if things went wrong at Barça and we were all in the national team.

So go down.

But is not the case.

Q.

And at the group management level?

A.

Good, very good.

Barça is, in quotes, a bit of a benchmark.

We have reached three Champions League finals in four years.

When we talk to teammates, they listen to us and value us.

We have a different way of playing than the rest of the teams and when we get here we all have to play the same.

The idea in Spain is the same as in Barça.

So, it's a very good thing.

Q.

Do you run less in the field now?

R.

I would tell him that I get better.

According to the GPS data, I usually run less than the other center.

I do not know why.

I don't know if I'm lazy or if I get super high [laughs].

P.

But with Paredes in the rear, the one who has to break lines is you?

A.

Yes, the coach asks me to go on field trips.

But I also know that I am a defender.

If a center raises, the other has to guard or the 6 has to close.

I feel it this way: the responsibility for the goals conceded is largely ours.

Q. Does a

or a goal

amuse you more ?

R.

What amuses me the most is filtering passes.

I'm lovin 'it.

I also really enjoy defending.

Throw myself to the ground and get to the cut, for a central is to be in their sauce.

It is wonderful.

Defending is an art.

P.

Is it crazy to think that Spain can win the Euro?

R.

There is the opportunity, of course.

But it is very difficult.

And it has to be clear that it is very difficult.

I know that it seems that all players have the same script, but it is the truth.

At the senior team level, we haven't done anything yet.

The first thing we have to do, even if it sounds like a cliché, is to think about Finland.

That is our reality.

Although I was one of the youngest, I lived through the Euro in which Austria eliminated us.

And when I remember it, I can't believe it.

Then we found ourselves against them in several games and we beat them all.

But in the Euro they eliminated us.

P.

Is it also possible without Alexia Putellas [she tore her cruciate ligaments last Tuesday]?

R.

Alexia is top, very top.

I'm not going to find out.

She is the best player in the world.

Obviously, for us, she is a very important loss, because of what she contributes on the field and also outside.

But now we have to think about moving on and wishing Alexia a good and fast recovery.

P.

How do you analyze the group from Spain?

R.

It is clear that it is the most difficult.

Although it will be for sure the most interesting.

With Germany and Denmark we know each other better.

We have already met.

And, in addition, among the players we have also faced each other in our clubs.

Q.

Is Barcelona's defeat in the Champions League final against Lyon an alert for the team in the Euro?

R.

In a Euro each match is practically a final.

As bad as the defeat against Lyon was, it helped us draw conclusions.

Q.

Like which ones?

R.

That we are not so good.

Q.

Really?

R.

If we are not 100% or we do not play as we know how, it is not worth it.

It happened to us in the Champions League and it can happen to us in the Euro.

We are going to find very good teams, which have great players.

We fear to be at a very good level.

And, if we do, we can be victorious.

Q.

If you were born again, would you be an artist or a footballer?

R.

If I were born again, I would love to be the way I am again.

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