Spain’s twice Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati is keen to start against Belgium on Monday at the Women’s Euros, but manager Montse Tome is leaning on the side of caution a week after the midfielder was released from hospital after viral meningitis.
The 27-year-old played the final nine minutes in the world champions’ 5-0 thrashing of Portugal on Thursday, and was itching to play a bigger role.
“I’m ready for 90 minutes and more,” the Barcelona player said in an interview with RTVE. “You know my mentality and my ambition; if I’m healthy, I’m never going to complain.”
Bonmati was frustrated at spending most of the Portugal game on the bench, Tome said, stressing that her health was the main consideration.
“She has a very high mental capacity. She’s super focused in the tournament,” Tome told reporters on Sunday. “It’s a pity she was sick at the beginning. We were afraid at the beginning, when we knew what she had, but she recovered very quickly.
“The other day, talking to the medical services, she played what she could play, because priority was her health.
“That’s the line we will follow. Aitana is available (on Monday), and we will decide what the game, the team needs and what’s most suitable with all the information we have.
“But the positive thing is that she’s fine, and she recovered.”
Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll will also be available against Belgium, Tome said, after being ill with what Spanish media reported was tonsillitis.
“We’ll decide if she’ll be playing or not. I think the Belgium coach (Elisabet Gunnarsdottir) is wondering if she’s playing or not, but we’re not giving any additional information,” Tome said.
“But the positive thing is that she is improving, and that what she has is not serious.”
Spain, who have never won the Women’s Euros but are favourites in Switzerland, top Group B, while Belgium are third having lost their opener 1-0 to Italy.
