We haven’t set ourselves any objectives ahead of the tournament.
It’s good that people believe in this team after what we did in the Copa América, but maybe when there is a lack of awareness around women’s football, certain media expectations are created.
The important thing is that we – both the players and the technical staff – really understand the situation. And we’re clear about that.
In terms of the responsibility we mentioned before, there’s more to it than just competing. It’s about the future. We’re mindful that what we do at this World Cup in France could be the start of what’s to come for women’s football in Chile.
But it’s important we don’t make the development of women’s football conditional on results at this World Cup. That would be a very short-term and biased view.
“Do we look for a result to develop, or do we develop to get a result?”
When you’re in the initial stages, as we are with women’s football in South America and Chile, I think you really have to cement the foundations for development and all that that implies. Opening up society, state support, securing participation from the clubs.
I always mention what Spain is doing as an example.
In the last few years it has consolidated its league and strengthened the youth teams, with great performances from its junior national teams. All of that has fed into the senior team, which is now one of the best in the world.
But it’s not only Spain. The rest of the top national teams have also done it. That shows you that it must be a permanent project over time.
But that is where the paradox comes in: “Do we look for a result to develop, or do we develop to get a result?”
Obviously, I don’t want to dismiss the importance of the result. Managers accept they have to live with that. But, for me, the answer lies in the work you do every day.
That’s how you can get a result, and not the other way around.
