Ewa Pajor: “At Barça you learn every day.”

Ewa Pajor (Uniejów, 1996) was born in a small town in Poland. There, she was told that football wasn't for girls. But she persisted, and that fueled her love affair with scoring goals. In her first year, she's already been with Barça for 43 years, a team with which she has reached the Champions League final. Unlike her teammates, she has played in four European finals with Wolfsburg and has never won. And she's eager to do so.

When, how, and why did you start liking football?

I remember my cousin came to my town. He played soccer. I said, "I want to play with you." And he said no, that I was smaller than the ball. But he wanted to play anyway. And I started playing alone with boys.

Did they make it easy for him?

No, not at all. I had to give my all because they always wanted to beat me. I had to be strong. That taught me to never give up.

Have you ever been told “you can’t play with us”?

Yes, girls' soccer wasn't normal in Poland. When I started, my generation or the previous one didn't have the opportunities they have now.

When I played with boys I had to be strong and I learned to never give up.”

Do you feel that you are now an example in Poland?

A little, yes. I'm very happy that we're improving Polish women's football. Of course, we're not at the level of Spain, but we're making progress.

What references did he have?

At first, I watched Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal, and then when he moved to Manchester. And, of course, we have Lewandowski. As for women, there wasn't any women's football on television, and that makes me a little sad because it leaves you without role models. Now I play with incredible players, and I don't want to single out just one.

What do you do off the field?

It's important for me to recover well because I know it helps me with football. I also walk my dog, and when I have vacations, I go to Poland.

What do you like about Barcelona ?

Everything. Of course, football first. But also the weather, the city, the beach... The quality of life is very high.

She likes to walk barefoot on the grass...

Yes, grounding is my post-workout ritual. I started in Wolfsburg, and here in Barcelona the weather is so good that I can do it every day. It relaxes me after training; it's like a little meditation.

From the outside, it seemed easy. But when I arrived, I saw that you have to be 100% to win like they do.

What song did you choose to celebrate the League with Barça?

A Polish song. It's about how I'm so small and the world is so big. It reminds me that my family tells me I have to stay the way I am.

Why did you say yes to Barça?

Because the club is incredible. And it has some really high-quality players. It wasn't easy because I'd been at Wolfsburg for nine years, but I thought, 'I have to accept it, because if I say no, they might not call me back.'

Was it frustrating to lose the final in Eindhoven against Barça?

Yes, because we were leading 2-0 at halftime and then lost. That game taught me that in football, everything can change in a second; you have to fight until the end.

Did you find this League easy?

From the outside, you see a 6-0 result and think the league is easy. But when I arrived, I realized that to win like that, you have to always give 100%.

Read also Mapi León, Alexia, Torrejón, Patri, and Aitana: Five Barça players in five historic finals. Anaïs Martí Herrero

Do you feel pressure from being the most expensive signing in the club's history?

I didn't think about that. I focused on football and quickly integrating into the team both inside and outside of it.

Do you think it's better now?

Yes. The quality of the training and the players is so high that I learn something new every day. At first, I was surprised by the way they play, the fast football, the touch of the ball...

It's striking how calm she is off the field, and how explosive she is on it...

Yes, in normal life I'm calm. But on the field I always try to give 100%. I'm happy to help both in defense and attack. Being a number nine motivates me.

I don't care about the Ballon d'Or. I want to win, play well, and win titles with the team."

Like Graham Hansen, right?

Yes, maybe. She's also calm. And a great player. Our connection is great.

Would you like to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or, or do you not mind?

No, I don't care. What I want is for the team to win every game, win titles, and play well.

You played at the Camp Nou.

Yes, against Wolfsburg. And we lost 4-1. I'd never experienced anything like it: the Barça fans kept cheering and singing "Un dia de partit ." It was so loud I couldn't even talk to my teammates. I hope to play there with Barça soon.

For me, scoring is a joy, but it makes me happier to help the team win.”

What is a goal for you?

For me, it's a joy. But it also makes me happy if a teammate scores. I always think about the team, about whoever passed to me, about whoever made the right decision. It makes me happy to score, but it makes me even happier to help the team.

What is your favorite goal?

The goal I scored here at Gamper against Milan was special because it was my first game at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. But I hope the most important one is yet to come.