Sonia Bermudez, a forward with the Spain’s Women’s World Cup squad, has said the players didn’t criticise Coach Ignacio Quereda sooner out of ‘fear.’
The squad signed a letter calling for long-serving Quereda to be sacked after La Roja left Canada at the group stage, citing the need for a change in management to engender future success.
Bermudez, who plays her club football for Atletico Madrid, has spoken to AS about the situation and shed more light on the players’ position.
“We didn’t do it because we were knocked out the World Cup. This was just the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Sonia said.
“The time has come. We’ve been in fear for many years and holding a lot back. We have nothing against the RFEF or the President but we asked for a change because we needed it.
“I’ve been in the national team for a long time. I started when I was 16 and I’m 30 now. In that time I’ve seen many things, players who have disagreed [with Quereda] and not returned.
“After all these years, finally, we are united and that union gives us strength. We’ll go to the death with this.
“It’s not true that we’re not united. We are together and every step we take will be agreed. After so many years in the national team I’ve not seen such a united group.
“We need a change because we don’t trust our Coach. He’s not connected with us and, furthermore, it’s been 27 years with one trophy.
“If we want to develop we feel we need that change. We don’t care how old the Coach is, but if you can’t reach the group, there’s nothing you can do.
“The Coach is a distant person, with a hard character. He wants to control everything, including interviews and what is said in them. And when someone wants to cover so many things, he can’t carry out the job he is supposed to be doing.
“His method is based on shouting and arguing. After a failure we know immediately comes a shout, a scowl, an argument. Shouting with nothing more isn’t good for any player.
“One detail – he calls us ‘little girls.’ I can’t imagine Vicente del Bosque calling his players ‘little boys.’ It’s a matter of respect.
“We hope the Federation will listen to us and find a solution. It’s not in our minds that he might stay. At least, that’s the hope we have.”
