Connected: Inside María Pérez’s Game

There’s a difference between playing in midfield and understanding it.

For María Pérez, that understanding comes from years of learning the game in a very specific way, shaped by Spanish football, refined at FC Barcelona Femení, and tested in England.

Now operating as a ‘six’, a role often compared to that of Sergio Busquets, Pérez offers a unique insight into one of football’s most demanding positions.

From her early days playing in her hometown to winning the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, she talks about development, differences in playing styles, and exactly how her role contributes to a winning team.

She also talks about the importance of how she got into the game, and why the reasons are still exactly the same now.

What was it like growing up in Spain, and how did you get into football?

“I just grew up in my hometown, playing football there, playing with my brother at home. Then I started training with his team, he was older than me. I just enjoyed it, having fun with my friends, I’ve never wanted to move far away because I enjoyed playing with my friends in my hometown. I went to another team, a bit more professional, but still close to my hometown. I did my ACL there and then went to a more professional team with more medical staff which was really good for me, stayed two years there, and then went to Barcelona. I was quite late (getting into football) and the first more professional team I went to, I was about 16, so quite old I’d say. I just loved playing with my friends!"

Have you always been a defensive midfielder?

It was 7v7, not 11v11, and at the start I was more of a wide player, because I was quick. I moved back and now I’ve found the ‘number six’ position (defensive midfielder, deep lying playmaker).

Who influenced you, and who did you watch growing up?

My favourite player was Iniesta, a Barca player, I loved watching him, he was really good. As I grew up, I watched more women’s football, and I saw Patri (Guijarro) at Barcelona. I enjoy watching football in general, Busquets, Patri, I love them all.

Is there a bit of coaching advice that has stuck with you?

When I went to the more professional club before Barcelona, I was more of an ‘eight’ or ‘ten’ closer to the strikers, and my coach, her name was Juli, told me I would be a six. I said I couldn’t, I didn’t like defending. She still told me that she saw me being a six! At Barcelona, I learnt a lot and learnt the role more. I don’t know what she saw in me to do that position, maybe the passing through, so yeah! She’s not a coach now, maybe more on TV, but she put me as a six and now, I’m here!

Who are the best players you have played with?

For me, obviously Alexia (Putellas) is just Alexia. For my position, Patri, I think she is the most underrated player in the world. For me, she deserves a Balon d’Or. If you don’t play with her, you might not see how important she is, but Barcelona and the national team can struggle more without her.

You’ve been compared to Sergio Busquets before, what do you make of those comparisons?

I think in Barcelona we all play the same style of football, so it is easy to compare. In Spain, it’s tiki-taka and close football. I just wanted to be me!

How do you compare training and playing in Spain and in England?

It’s different. In Spain the players are very technical and tactical. We all understand football the same way (in Spain), so it is easier to play. In England, everything is faster and more physical. It was a huge change, and here it is a lot crazier. There are a lot more transitions, and it is more box-to-box. In Spain it is a lot more positional, the players are very technical. The way to understand football for me, I think is slowly coming over from Spain to England. Spain can learn from the physicality of England too. There are a lot of great things the countries can learn from each other.

What is your role on the pitch as a ‘number six’?

I would say, as a six, we need to balance the team. The best part of this role is that the ball needs to come through you. In general, if the six does well, the team does well. You have to find the lines of passes to benefit the team. Growing up in Spain, we played close together, so it helped me. You have to be aware, switched on, and connected. You can’t just chase the ball – when we attack, I can’t just run forward, I need to connect the other players and also watch for the striker. You always must be an option to help control the game and keep the ball, and in the middle of the pitch that is my job, I try to help connect everyone.

Do you watch football differently?

I really like to watch my position on TV, and with different teams. Watching is so easy, when you see the whole pitch. I think people are one step behind sometimes and then I realise I’m not playing in it! I like to watch, how they work, how they play, I learn a lot when I watch the others play.

Do you see yourself being interested in the coaching side of the game?

I don’t think so, because of my personality. I think more behind-the-scenes maybe, like an analyst, but not a coach. In our team, you can see who would be a good coach. Kosse (Asllani), Julia (Roddar) and Daan (van de Donk) spring to mind. Julia has really good handling for example, and all three of them are good at coaching.

How did you deal with the transition from the Spanish second division, to winning the World Cup?

I went to the pre-camp before the World Cup, just to enjoy, but in my head, I was thinking ‘I’m not going’. I played more with the Barcelona academy; we had a great team and won the league but in my head, I thought I wasn’t going because I wasn’t in the first team. When I got called up, I was at home. My parents were working, and I was at home with my brother, and he was like what the hell! My mum called me, my dad called me, it was amazing. I was so happy!

On winning the World Cup….

Like, you go day-by-day and you can’t even think about it happening! We were in the semi-finals, and we just treated it like a game, we were so chilled and confident. It didn’t appear big, even after we won, we didn’t think we’re World Cup winners. It hit me when you come home, see everyone on the streets, that’s the best. We were just training, going for walks, playing the games, taking it day-by-day. I cannot even explain how good it felt when we won.

Is there something you know as a footballer, that you wish you knew before?

I would say, enjoy everything, every training too. When I did my ACL and last year my meniscus, I realised that when I’m back running, I’m so happy now. We do it every day, and sometimes it’s like, ‘I have to run again today’ but I now love it. I like dancing, enjoying and laughing. When it is hard on the pitch, I remember that I love what I do. I think I was late into football, and I just played it because I enjoyed it. Oh, and study! That’s what my parents always tell me, they say, ‘just study’. Football can change so quickly, and it is a short career, you can’t take everything for granted so enjoy football and study! I think I’ve always stuck by that.

---

Join us at our next home game.

BACK HOME TO FINISH STRONG.

LEICESTER (H) TICKETS

SAVE £20 WITH OUR FINAL TWO BUNDLE

Join us as we close out our inaugral BWSL campaign.

FINAL TWO BUNDLE