By the time I get to the royal box, it is time for the teams to come out of the tunnel as I am scanning the pitch I lock eyes with beautiful brown ones that belong to Mapi after a few seconds we are broken out of our trance by the opposing team coming to shake hands with the Barcelona players.
– Skip The Game –
After the game Barcelona won (2-0) so as I make my way down to the tunnel escorted by my security, I see both teams shaking hands. As I get to the tunnel I get told by an official to wait here and I have to take the trophy out as they announce who is presenting, understanding what I am meant to do, I wait.
After about 5 minutes it is time to walk out with the trophy, as I am walking out I receive a huge reception from the fans with a standing ovation. While making my way towards the players I see many of them completely unaware of my presence unlike the whole of Camp Nou. Sitting the trophy down I nod my head towards the same official from earlier as if to say I'm ready to begin.
As the Real Madrid players make their way towards me I hug every one of them telling the we are all proud of them for making it this far within the league. Then next the winners, Barcelona made their way towards me with huge smiles on their faces which I reciprocated. One by one I hand them their medals and hug them but as Mapi makes her way towards me I whisper in her ear,
"Congratulations beautiful, well done!"
As I pull away I can see her blush from my interaction with her, as Alexia is behind her as captain I give her the medal and make my way towards the trophy, as I am handing her the trophy I tell her,
"Be careful don't drop it now!" As she hears she starts to laugh while shaking her head and walking towards the rest of her team.
– After the Trophy Lift –
As I make my way to the pitch I get handed a microphone to make a speech, so as I turn around and make my way towards the middle of the pitch to make my speech I get some weird looks from the players but take it in my stride as I make it to the middle of the pitch, I give thumbs up to the officials to say I'm ready. As the music dies down everyone turns towards the middle of the pitch where I currently stand.
"Hello everyone, I am Princess Sofía of Spain and I feel honoured to have watched this match take place, watching history take place in my own country fills me with a sense of pride and joy. But anyway I would like to say a huge congratulations to Barcelona for winning the league by going unbeaten throughout and to Real Madrid: your fans, staff and all the players within Real Madrid men or women should all be immensely proud of you all today, for even making it to a final is amazing and an achievement in its self, once I have finished this speech I ask for both teams celebrate whether you have won or not, as you should be celebrating how far women's football has come in recent years, as I must say as a football fan myself it fills you with worth, pride and joy to be able to watch you all play in this amazing stadium. So Thank you for all the fans here today and one last congratulation to Barcelona, thank you all for making this an amazing experience for me today!"
As I finish my speech I get another standing ovation, once again making my way off the pitch giving my microphone to the same official walking towards the tunnel. As I get to the tunnel I see the players heading my way and then the next minute I know I feel my pairs of arms wrapped around me realising all the players from both teams are hugging me, they soon let go as Alexia steps forwards and says
"We all wanted to thank you for what you said out there today during your speech it really is hard not realising you actually watch women's football and the fact you have seen the growth in it, so we all wanted to thank you!"
"It's no problem honestly and I have always watched women's football and see I am being completely honest with you I prefer the men's game as you all play with your heart and have club loyalty as the men just play for the cheque, which in my opinion makes you all already 10x better than the men"
As I say this I look at them and realise they are all crying, not wanting them to cry I immediately start apologising, but they all give me one last hug and they make their way to the locker room. While walking down to the exit I feel an arm pull me back as I turn around I realise it is Mapi, raising my eyebrow in curiosity.
"Hello, I know this is unexpected but I was wondering if I could have your number beautiful, so I can talk to you more?"
"Hey, and yes, of course, ill give you my number just make sure not to give it out as I don't want it going public!" I tell her handing my phone to her as she does the same to me.
As we say our goodbyes all I can think about is that I can't believe I got Mapi León's number...