Hit or miss? 25 most expensive transfers of the 21st century

Six stars City should target to cure Pep's biggest headache

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

How England should line up once Tuchel takes charge

Chelsea young guns driving perfect start to post-Hayes era

Neymar told he’s ‘same level as Messi’ but ‘ruined career’

Felix dazzles but Ronaldo-less Portugal lack finishers

Ronaldo wants to make Guardiola the Selecao's new boss

Is 1,000 goals realistic? Ex-CR7 rival says he’ll ‘get there’

Messi sends special message at end of 'unforgettable year' 

Pulisic: 'Trump dance' celebration was 'funny,' not political

Neymar's future decided? Al-Hilal star buys €50m penthouse

Rooney enjoying ‘boozy nights & takeaways’ without wife Coleen

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Gonzalez says NWSL level is like 'playing Barca'</li><li>World Cup winner previously played for Real Madrid</li><li>Won NWSL title with Gotham FC 2-1</li></ul>

‘Every game is like playing Barcelona’ - Jenni Hermoso's World Cup-winning team-mate Esther Gonzalez talks up the NWSL after beating Megan Rapinoe and OL Reign to Championship title

After signing Gonzalez on August 23, Gotham went on to win the NWSL title, with the Ex-Real Madrid attacker playing a key role in their success during the regular season and in their historic playoff run.Speaking to reporter <a href="https://as.com/autor/marta-grinan-sanchez/" target="_blank">Marta Grinan of AS,</a> Gonzalez spoke on the level of competition in the NWSL compared to that of Europe - specifically, Barcelona and the Champions League.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Gonzalez scored the game-winning goal in the NWSL final Saturday, leaping all five-foot-three of her into the air to get a brilliant header off in stoppage-time during the first half.Now, she's made an incredible claim about the competition level within the league, stating that it's on the level of UEFA Champions League matches 'every' time.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Going 🆙, <a href="https://twitter.com/Estheeer9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Estheeer9</a>! ⚽️<a href="https://twitter.com/GothamFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GothamFC</a> restores its lead just before the break!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NWSLChampionship?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NWSLChampionship</a> <a href="https://t.co/W7wipa2A4Q">pic.twitter.com/W7wipa2A4Q</a>— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSL/status/1723522112076370107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

"One of the biggest differences with the Spanish League, which is a great League, is that here all the games, absolutely all of them, are like a Champions League game, at the highest level. In Spain there are some games that you can win four or five to zero, that your physical wear and tear is normal, that you have everything under control..." "Here every game is like playing against Barça, which is the best team in the Spanish League: your level has to be the maximum, your physical demand is the maximum, and that happens weekend after weekend" "Afterwards, the big difference is control, in Spain we have a lot of control over the games, the times, when to pause, when to attack and when not to. Here they look so physically superior that it's all about transitions"

WHAT GONZALEZ SAID

The Spain international will now enjoy her offseason with Gotham, capping off an incredible year of soccer. Winning both the FIFA World Cup and an NWSL title in the same season is an outstanding feat, so now, it's an offseason to rest and reset before the next campaign.

WHAT NEXT FOR ESTHER GONZALEZ?

‘Every game is like playing Barcelona’ - Jenni Hermoso's World Cup-winning team-mate Esther Gonzalez talks up the NWSL after beating Megan Rapinoe and OL Reign to Championship title | Goal.com

Gotham FC&apos;s goal-scoring hero Esther Gonzalez, who netted the winner in the NWSL title game, spoke on the league&apos;s level compared to Europe.

‘Every game is like playing Barcelona’ - Jenni Hermoso&apos;s World Cup-winning team-mate Esther Gonzalez talks up the NWSL after beating Megan Rapinoe and OL Reign to Championship title