Can anyone stop Barcelona Women?
They have won all of their 16 games this season, scored 87 goals and conceded just four.
Tonight the European champions take on Arsenal, who they beat 4-0 in October, and are looking to seal top spot in their Champions League group.
Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic pauses when asked whether Barca ever get bored of winning all the time, especially in Spain.
Barcelona star Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic (right) is relishing taking on Arsenal once again
‘I wish and I hope other teams get better. I hope they get better infrastructure, possibilities for training, they get paid better, they get professional. In every league. But I’m not getting bored.
‘Our strength is we always go for the next goal. At 2-0 you could just sit back and be like “okay, we’ve got it”. But I think that’s the DNA of the team. We always go on. That’s the mentality that we have and that’s why we win sometimes 7-0 or 8-0. I don’t know if other teams would do that too.’
Crnogorcevic, who is Switzerland’s all-time leading scorer, was part of the side who helped Barca win the Champions League last season. She also won the competition with Frankfurt in 2015 but hopes Barca can follow in the footsteps of Lyon – who won the trophy five times in a row between 2016 and 2020.
‘As of right now we’re the best team or last year we were the best team in Europe. This year, we would love to repeat all that stuff. I know it’s hard and difficult to do it. Lyon did it five times in a row which was incredible, just unbelievable. That’s our goal. That’s what we are looking for.’
Barca despatched Arsenal convincingly at the Johan Cruyff Stadium in October.
The Gunners will have learned from that experience but the big, open and immaculate playing surface at the Emirates, compared to Arsenal’s usual home of Meadow Park, will surely suit Barca down to the ground?
‘Oh totally, I love it!’ Crnogorcevic says. ‘Johan is the same, it’s big, it’s great. We’re really looking forward to that. Of course I prefer the Emirates.’
Mariona Caldentey celebrates scoring in Barcelona’s 4-0 rout of Arsenal earlier in the season
Two Arsenal players Crnogorcevic knows well are Lia Walti and Noelle Martiz, who both play alongside her at international level.
‘We spoke before the draw was made, before the first game and after the first game but the last couple of days we didn’t. I think it’s normal. After the game we’ll talk. Obviously Lia is one of my good friends, we talk a lot but not about football.
‘Lia is great, she’s amazing. She’s our captain for the national team, she’s superb. She’s like the heart of our team. She’s incredible and I love to have her in my team, she is one of the best players.
‘Noelle, she’s young, she’s doing a really good job. You always know what you get with Noelle.’
And what about Barcelona’s Ballon d’Or winner – Alexia Putellas? ‘She’s so f*****g professional,’ Crnogorcevic says before quickly apologising for the expletive.
‘She’s been the best. A great captain, a great, true leader. She knows when she has to say something and what she has to say. On the pitch she’s so important. She deserved it definitely, no doubt about it.’
Crnogorcevic herself has been in fine form this season with five goals and two assists. The 31-year-old usually plays as a forward but can also fill in at right or left full-back.
Crnogorcevic insists that Barcelona are not bored of winning as they look to build a dynasty
‘I think my versatility is one of my strengths, I can adapt, I can play different positions. It helps sometimes if something happens or we have some injuries, I can step in.
‘It also helps me get better. You see different positions. You always think as a striker “this, this and this” and all of a sudden you are a left back or right back and you see what the striker has to do and the importance of the passes from the back.
‘We have huge competition, we have a huge squad, everyone can play. We score a lot of goals.
‘A lot of the Spanish players are quite similar then the players from outside are a little bit different but everyone knows the Barca style and the Barca DNA. We connect and everyone is on the same page as a team.
‘It doesn’t matter who is playing there, everyone has different qualities but the way of playing is always the same.’
The Swiss star has looked to Lyon’s success in winning five straight Champions League titles