A
Despite being highly valued by her team, Caroline Graham Hansen is often not recognized or acknowledged as one of the top players in women’s football. At Barcelona, she has achieved success by winning every possible trophy, but when it comes to awards, she tends to be overlooked by judges. Despite this, her teammates consider her to be one of the best in the world.
The winger from Norway has achieved impressive numbers that most players on those lists have never reached. She currently holds the top spot in the Spanish league for both goals and assists, with 17 and 16 respectively, after 19 matches. Additionally, in six Women’s Champions League matches, she has scored five goals and provided five assists.
In the summer of 2019, Graham Hansen became Barcelona’s first signing. Now, she looks back on her arrival four years ago while sitting peacefully in the Johan Cruyff Stadium stands. Reflecting on her past, she recalls facing criticism upon joining the team from Wolfsburg. People believed she was only coming for the money and that it was a step down in her career. Despite doubts, she knew deep down that Barcelona was the right place for her. At the time, Barcelona hadn’t won the league since 2015 and had just lost 4-1 to Lyon in the Champions League final. Yet, from the moment she arrived, she felt like this was where she belonged.
When the Norwegian player was positioned on the wing, Barcelona accomplished the domestic treble during her initial year with the team. In total, she has earned four league titles, two Champions Leagues, three Copas de la Reina, and three Supercopas.
After their successful match against Lyon in 2019, Barcelona decided to intensify their support for the women’s team. This decision was evident in their performance. According to Graham Hansen, our playing style will elevate the women’s game and inspire other teams to follow suit. This progress has been observed in recent years, not only due to our efforts, but also due to the increased funding and attention directed towards women’s football.
According to Graham Hansen, Arsenal’s recent performance, with a full Emirates stadium, has led to a higher level of competition and an increase in the quality of their gameplay. Barcelona, with their sold-out Camp Nou of over 90,000 fans, have been compared to the highly successful golden era of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, known for their near-perfect style of football. Barcelona has only lost 12 of their 244 matches in the last six seasons, highlighting the impact of their style of play. Graham Hansen believes that their unique style of play has pushed other teams to improve and adapt, in order to defeat Barcelona’s dominance on the pitch.
Graham Hansen’s dream became a reality when she had the opportunity to demonstrate her skills at Barcelona. She had always been a fan of the club and was thrilled to wear their shirt. She fondly recalls her first training game during pre-season and remembers thinking, “I will one day wear a Barça jersey with my name on it”. It was a moment she never thought possible.
“I make it a habit to remind myself that my time at the Johan Cruyff Stadium is temporary, and therefore I try to fully enjoy the experience every time I step out here,” she explains. “This was a major reason for me to join this team – to live out this dream.” Her main focus is on finding enjoyment and achieving victories, rather than seeking personal accolades or gaining a huge following on social media. “My goal is for people to leave the match thinking, ‘Wow, that Barça team has some incredible talent.’ I hope that seeing our quality on the field will inspire young girls and boys to pursue football.”
Graham Hansen hopes to put an end to comparisons with the men’s game. She acknowledges that there are physical differences, but she believes that others can recognize the quality of the women’s game without making direct comparisons to the men’s game. She hopes that people can see the women’s game for what it is – good in its own right.
It is hard to ignore the difference between playing for a club and representing your country, as is the case for Graham Hansen. Her most recent medal with Norway was in 2013. She reflects, “I have had the fortune of experiencing many moments with the national team, both positive and negative. The good moments will always be cherished, like winning silver at the Euros – I am incredibly proud of that.”
Despite having a strong attacking lineup with players like Graham Hansen, Guro Reiten, and Ada Hegerberg, Norway has struggled to keep up with the top teams in the world. Graham Hansen has been vocal about her frustrations with their performance, acknowledging that they have not been successful enough and that it is difficult to accept. They believe that they have the talent and capability to do better, but have not been able to deliver.
Display image in fullscreen mode.
“We can have faith that our new coach, Gemma Grainger, will bring about a change in our team’s performance,” Graham states. “However, we must also acknowledge that we are not expected to be contenders for any championship. Nevertheless, our goal should be to be among the top outsiders, something we have not come close to achieving in previous tournaments.”
She places less importance on receiving personal accolades. “I have always believed that it’s not crucial, but after not receiving any awards for the past four years, I have stopped worrying about it. It doesn’t contribute to the team’s success or bring me happiness, so why bother putting effort into it? I appreciate it if others recognize my efforts, but it doesn’t define my abilities as a footballer if they don’t. “
Social media has played a crucial role in the advancement of women’s soccer, but Graham Hansen’s presence on different platforms is not very prominent. She acknowledges the pressure for visibility in current times and the positive developments for female players off the field. However, she wants to remind everyone that their focus should still be on the game itself and taking pleasure in playing and training every day. The main reason for their involvement in soccer is for the love of the sport, and while it’s okay to engage in other activities outside of it, what truly matters is what they do on the field, at least for her.
This is a crucial message for young girls and boys. Don’t get distracted by trying to appear like a celebrity off the field, and lose focus on the game. It’s not worth it if you’re not truly satisfied with the daily activities you are participating in.
Get in touch
Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] for any inquiries or feedback regarding our newsletters. Just a friendly reminder that Moving the Goalposts is published twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
-
This is a snippet from our complimentary weekly email, “Moving the Goalposts”. For the complete version, please visit this page and follow the provided instructions.
Source: theguardian.com
