Two coaches and the same destiny. They share some details, but big differences separate them. Jonatan Giráldez faces Emma Hayes in a duel of games and personalities in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals (6:30 p.m., DAZN, La 2 de TVE and TV3) after the Londoners’ 0-1 draw in Montjuïc. Stamford Bridge, almost full, awaits the big clash.
Both coaches shared a nomination for the latest The Best as the best coaches in women’s football – Sarina Wiegmann, England coach, won – and this summer they will coincide in the United States: Giráldez will go to the Washington Spirit and Hayes to the North American team after 13 seasons at Chelsea . And they both long for a common goal: to win the Champions League (the second for him, the first for her).
The Londoner, dressed in a striking blue suit on Montjuïc, is more about gestures and noise. The man from Vigo, always writing in his notebook or playing with a tablet, appears more discreet and simple, comfortable in his black jeans and sweatshirt.
Chelsea, until the first leg, had never beaten Barcelona. Hayes’ plan worked and even Giráldez seemed desperate for not being able to build his game, roll the ball and attack the goal. Jonatan’s model – associative, fast and coming from behind – was cornered by Hayes’ model, who preferred to slow down and hinder Barcelona to pick up the pace. Emma imposed her soccer.
Neither having the “best team in the world” in front of him, as he admitted, nor the pressure of having lost two competitions in recent weeks or having significant losses, altered Hayes’ tension. “The only person who can make me lose my temper is my son,” the Londoner confessed before returning. Her experience has also given her serenity. He began managing Chelsea in 2012, and since then he has won six Leagues, five FA Cups and two League Cups, although never a Champions League.
Instructive, intense and with discipline as her flag, she pointed out that the relationships between players were “inappropriate.” She, too, lacks irony and sarcasm at press conferences. A marked personality, but always determined.
“The return will be similar in their proposal, because it has worked for them. The first leg was very close, there were very few chances. We have to create more,” claimed Giráldez. And he added: “We don’t have to do anything exceptional, just play a good game. Win and deserve it.”
Giráldez is a football obsessive, analytical and simple. He arrived at the club in 2019 as one of Lluís Cortés’ two assistants, until he left two years later and became the team’s first coach. Since then, he has won two Leagues, a Queen’s Cup, three Super Cups, a Champions League, and few controversies. He appears elegant in press conferences on complicated topics, always focused on football rather than noise, but also direct and sincere. When his march to Washington was leaked, he preferred to show his face and respond to the media.
The event represents a new opportunity for Giráldez to demonstrate the Barça level with the hope of a comeback, and another for Hayes to get closer to a long-awaited crown. His teams are risking everything and their benches will be separated by a few meters, but their dissimilarities will distance them. Opposite and confronted by the same task.
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