Vicky Losada on Barcelona’s development, Champions League glory & her plant primarily based food regimen
Not many gamers select to go away Barcelona on a number of events.
Vicky Losada has completed simply that – thrice to be exact – with every of her exits marking a symbolic step within the development of Barcelona’s ladies’s staff.
After progressing by means of the membership’s esteemed La Masia academy, Losada first left Barcelona in 2007 following their relegation to the second tier.
They bounced straight again and Losada returned the next season. Nonetheless, with the membership not turning into an expert outfit till summer time 2015, Losada left to affix Arsenal in March of that 12 months. She got here again for her third chunk of the Barca cherry 20 months later.
“I went overseas to be skilled and I got here again to a membership that was skilled,” Losada informed 90min.
The midfielder emotionally introduced her departure from Barcelona for a 3rd time in June 2021; somewhat over a fortnight after she had captained the membership to their maiden Champions League title.
“I believe it was the right manner,” she explains. “Successful the Champions League helped me as a result of it was my dream to do it defending these colors. As a footballer and with such an extended profession you already know once you’re [at] an finish of a cycle.
“I believe that was my time to go, and I used to be by no means anticipating that good bye and all of the love from all of the followers, and I used to be by no means anticipating how a lot ladies’s soccer was going to develop. I truly nonetheless take a look at pictures and really feel so fortunate that I’ve lived by means of that in my profession.”
A few of the most iconic footage from that well-known evening in Gothenburg are of Losada; Champions League trophy clasped in her hand and nets draped round her shoulders like a shawl.
“Once I was rising up I couldn’t watch ladies’s soccer as a result of they weren’t exhibiting it on TV, so my goals got here from the lads’s soccer,” Losada says. “So I all the time bear in mind [Gerard] Pique taking the nets with Barca, and also you simply need to be like that once you win.
“It was a fantastic second to take a little bit of the web – I imply I believe we practically took all of it… I’ve just a bit piece at dwelling. I really feel so fortunate how all the things ended and all the things that Barca has given me.”
Barcelona’s achievements throughout the 2020/21 season had been years within the making. Since turning skilled, the membership’s philosophy has been to put money into their crop of first staff and academy gamers; Losada was one in all 9 La Masia graduates within the squad for Barcelona’s 2020/21 Champions League triumph.
This strategy didn’t garner success in a single day.
Barcelona completed as league runners as much as Atletico Madrid 4 years on the bounce, and had been crushed 4-1 by Lyon within the 2019 Champions League remaining.
However the membership stormed to the treble in 2021, securing European glory with a devastating 4-0 victory over Chelsea. And all whereas taking part in the Barcelona manner.
“Even on the very begin we used to play towards Wolfsburg, Lyon, all the large, massive groups in Europe. And we by no means misplaced our id of that loving the sport, exhibiting the gorgeous soccer, however we had been simply not prepared,” Losada says. “We had goals that then on the pitch we couldn’t obtain.
“In the long run we [went] from a staff with goals to a successful staff. Only a machine of successful video games, and the best way we had been doing it, for me, I believe is what made it very particular.
“It didn’t actually change once we had been making substitutions, the type was there. A variety of gamers had been from La Masia and it was simply a tremendous second; I believe it’s actually, actually onerous that that occurs once more the identical manner.”
Losada had beforehand voiced her intention to retire at Barcelona, however she was tempted away from her childhood membership by Manchester Metropolis and the problem of the WSL.
“Once I left Arsenal, I by no means needed to go away as a result of I used to be giving actually good performances and I knew the league was going to make me higher due to the gamers,” she provides. “The dedication and all the things that was occurring right here was wonderful. However I needed to return again to my dwelling and be a part of that course of that I believed was going to take us to win the Champions League – and that’s what occurred.
“I believe life ultimately introduced me again right here and I can say once more now that the funding from TV, advertising revenues, everybody – the ladies’s soccer is simply wonderful.”
Losada’s uniqueness in soccer extends past her a number of departures from Barcelona.
The 31-year-old would not eat meat, and her food regimen is 90% plant primarily based. She initially made the change in 2019 to aide her restoration from damage. With the assistance of a nutritionist, she progressively made this food regimen everlasting.
“Undoubtedly now even in my numbers in efficiency [improve]; the weights, all the things I do daily,” Losada explains. “And my physique feels manner nicer. Going plant primarily based simply makes me really feel manner higher.”
The broader advantages of a plant primarily based food regimen additionally enchantment to Losada. You’ll be able to’t assist however draw comparisons between her and one other environmentally aware, Spanish, former Arsenal participant.
“I bear in mind watching a documentary of Hector Bellerin and he had an enormous damage and he modified his food regimen, and his life generally modified utterly,” she provides. “I believe he was one of many first footballers to discuss plant primarily based.
“It’s the most effective issues I’ve completed in my life as a result of additionally now you realise that this helps the setting, and makes the world happier and higher.
“I truly assume after I retire I’ll nonetheless be plant primarily based. However for me I’m aware about animals, the change we’re making on the planet with all of the affect we’re making with improper habits. If I could be a small assist, I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Vicky Losada was talking as a part of her work with American Pistachio Growers. Pistachios are a handy snack, with a excessive antioxidant capability, that make up a whole protein. They’re additionally moveable and don’t require any preparation. Vicky incorporates pistachios into her coaching food regimen to gasoline her lively life-style, and to assist refuel and get well earlier than and after a match.
