Interviews
LUN 02.01.2017
She was born on 31 July 1990 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ten years later, in 2000, she crossed the pond and touched down in Madrid, where she kicked off her playing career. After all, football runs in the family. Her brother Alexander Szymanowski plays for CD Leganes and, just like him, Marianela plies her trade in the top flight. Now, having recovered from two serious injuries, she's back enjoying her football with Valencia Women.
Question: You were born in Argentina, but grew up in Spain. Tell us a little about that…
Answer: I arrived in Spain in 2000 as a ten-year-old. I was 16 when I began playing top-flight futsal. I played for two years and stepped up to football just after my 18th birthday. I was playing in the Spanish championship with the Madrid regional futsal team when I got the call from Atletico Madrid. I had two lovely seasons there, developing my game. Then I received a call from Rayo Vallecano, who were about to take part in the Champions League. Unfortunately, I was injured when they signed me and I didn't feature in a single game.
Q: That's where the injuries began…
A: That's where the injury woes began. I only featured during one of my four seasons at Rayo due to a knee injury - two operations - which sidelined me for two and a half years, then a dislocated collarbone - another two operations -, which ruled me out for almost the entirety of last season (my last one at Rayo). Now I'm at Valencia.
Q: How different is your Argentina to Spain?
A: The differences between Argentine and Spanish football lie in each country's attitude and society. In Argentina, there's still a narrow-minded attitude and the football federation (AFA) is far from interested in promoting women's football. Meanwhile, Spain is somewhat more advanced in those areas.
Q: A love of football runs in your family, doesn't it? Both you and your brother Alexander play in LaLiga. Do you receive support from Argentina?
A: We get a lot of encouragement and support from our friends and family in Argentina, from those who've been following our footsteps since our arrival in Spain. In terms of the press, we were very young when we left Argentina and are only now starting to have contact with some newspapers.
Q: Women's football progresses daily. What's it like being a part of it? Has it been a tough journey?
A: It's still hard to play women's football in this country. Players usually must combine their work and studies with their football, giving up almost everything else just to make that possible. It's true that women's football is progressing daily in every aspect, which means it's important that we all keep working hard.
Q: What do you think of LaLiga's support for the LaLiga Iberdrola? Do you see progress?
A: Of course, I do. I feel that women's football has integrated well into LaLiga. This has helped to spread the word and people are now getting to know us more. I think they're doing an amazing job.
Q: What's your life like in Valencia?
A: I'm totally settled in the city. I leave my house at 15:30 to train and usually return home at around 20:00. I spend the rest of my time studying and organising myself as best I can to do the housework. The thing that I miss most from Madrid is my family.
Q: How did the Valencia dressing room welcome you?
A: I adapted very well to the dressing room. My teammates welcomed me as one of the team and I settled very quickly and well. I'm happy and pleased to be where I am.
Q: Your team are unstoppable this year. You're fourth and are still improving. What's the key to this Valencia's success?
A: There's no real key. What there is is a lot of hard work and an ambition to improve daily. Another positive aspect of this team is that we have such a competitive squad, one in which you must focus and perform to the best of your ability to play. If you don't, there's always another teammate ready to step up to the plate.
Q: How do you personally see yourself this season?
A: I see myself as part of an exciting Valencia squad with great teammates and great backroom staff who I learn from every day. Personally, I'm thrilled to be part of this big club and to continue developing as a player so I'm ready to compete and feel that I contribute to this team.
Q: Do you have a wish or dream that you want to achieve in the world of women's football?
A: I prefer to focus on the short term. As I said previously, I'm happy and pleased to be where I am. All I'm focused on is lifting a trophy in these colours. I'm not looking beyond that. I just want to enjoy today and focus on the present. At the end of the day, that's how you guarantee a successful future.
© LALIGA - 2017