InterviewAlejandra Bernabe: I'm so happy to be back, this is the perfect place for me
Alejandra Bernabe believes Liverpool FC Women is the perfect place to establish herself as a player and person, now she has returned to the club permanently.
The defender spent the second half of the previous season on Merseyside after joining the Reds on loan from Chelsea.
Now, Bernabe can look to the future with certainty, the Spaniard having completed a transfer to become a fixture of Gareth Taylor’s squad.
Upon sealing her switch, the full-back sat down with Liverpoolfc.com at the AXA Melwood Training Centre to discuss her delight at being back, recovery from injury, ambitions and more.
See the whole chat below…
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Alejandra, congratulations. This time you’re here as a permanent Liverpool player. How good does that feel for you?
Thank you very much, I’m so happy to be here. Last season was amazing, so I was so happy to be back.
You joined at the latter end of last season but clearly you enjoyed yourself and wanted to stay. So, how keen were you to make this switch permanent this time?
I think here I have the opportunity to be my best. I always try to do that in my life. Here, I feel well with the people, with the club, with my teammates and everything. I think it’s so important for [players] to be 100 per cent on the pitch, so I try to give that. And here I think is the place [for me].
You mention your relationships with your teammates and fitting in. That is so important, isn’t it? Because having those relationships off the pitch helps you to gel on it, I imagine?
Yes. For me, it’s so important. Also, I’m from Spain, so staying here and having some friends, I think you have to do it to then be better on the pitch. Here, the people are always like a family, they are so nice. For me, it’s one of the most important things to be comfortable with the team – and I feel it here.
Everybody says this dressing room is such a close and tight-knit group. You’ve obviously been in a few dressing rooms but does this one feel quite special?
Yes, it’s so special. I felt it the first time and now again. I think that is so important for improvement and then being together on the pitch. Here, I have that. The club has that. That’s amazing for the players.
You were here for a few months at the end of the season, what were your highlights in that time? I imagine getting the first WSL win at Anfield over Manchester United was quite high on the list?
I didn’t expect my first time playing with the shirt of Liverpool [to be] like that. It was amazing. It’s true that I struggled a little bit in the first part of the season because I didn’t play that much. Then I came here and I felt better. I think I could be better than the last season. So, I’m grateful to have this opportunity to get my best. That match was amazing, I have a good memory.
You won the penalty in that game, that must have been quite a big moment for you…
It was amazing. Now I think about it, it’s like a dream come true. I never thought that could happen in my first game at Anfield. It was amazing.
We spoke in the interview when you first arrived and you were saying how much you were looking forward to playing at Anfield. Did it live up to expectations?
I didn’t have as high [expectations as that]! It was so, so good. It’s like, if you think about it, it’s a dream come true.
Obviously when you know you’re staying at the club now for the long term, that must give you a lot of stability. So, how much are you looking forward to next season now you know you can focus and this is where you’re going to be?
Yeah, for sure. I think I’m more calm and everything because I have everything here and I don’t need to think about more than football. That is the most important [thing] also. My objective is to be my best and then also to have a lot of opportunities, if possible. The most important [thing] is to have my best and then when the opportunity comes, be at 100 per cent.
You picked up an injury towards the end of the last campaign and you’re still in rehab at the moment. How are you feeling with your recovery?
I’m so much better. It was an injury that I didn’t expect. It’s a long time. I’m still nearly [able] to go to the pitch, so I’m feeling so good. Doing the rehab here is better. I think I’m so nearly [ready] to go, but also my feet are on the ground. I’ll go step by step. The most important thing is that I feel good, I don’t have pain. So, looking forward.
Once you are fully fit, what are your personal ambitions for this season? It’s a new era with the new head coach Gareth Taylor as well, what has he said to you about how he wants you to be involved with the team?
Now we’re talking about my injury, I think the best [thing] now is focusing on getting my best. So, my first objective is to get ready to stay with the team, that’s the most important. And then I think the most important [thing] for me is to be available the most times that I can. Now my mentality is to focus on my rehab and then we will see. But, yeah, to be available is my first objective.
You won’t be available for the Merseyside derby this weekend, which is a shame. But you’ll probably be there cheering the girls on?
Yeah, I hope so! It’s good to come here but also it’s frustrating to not be with the team. But I’m happy, that’s the most important thing. I’m nearly there; focus on the rehab.
When we first spoke, you were talking about moving to Liverpool and embracing life as an adopted Scouser. How are you enjoying being in the city, have you been out and about?
Sometimes I can’t understand the accent and they have to repeat for me! But it’s good to improve my English. I love the city, I think it’s perfect for me because I love the smaller cities, not too big. The people also are so nice, so kind. For me, it’s so important to have that in my life. Here, I found a place to be fine, good, happy. I love the city.