2024-09-22 13:57:51
Alessia Russo admitted it is “tough” to maintain a close bond with fans amid the rise of the women’s game.
The 25-year-old footballer is delighted that her sport has grown in popularity but admitted players can no longer spend as much time as they’d like to with individual supporters before and after their matches.
She told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “It’s tough. Obviously, one of the best things about women’s football and the growth of the past few years is the connections and the stories that we have with the fans.
“There was one point where fans would not only get to watch the game but have selfies and signed photos pretty much every game they would come to.
“As players, we always want to make time for the fans because they’ve been there from the start and they’ve helped grow our game.
“I hope the fans know how much they mean to players, but at the same time it is hard for us to thank everyone and see everyone.
“Sometimes it is challenging, especially when we have midweek games and we have to almost start our recovery process as soon as the game is finished.”
The Arsenal ace also admitted it can be tough “finding a balance” between enjoying her down time and looking after herself to stay in peak physical condition.
She said: “When you do get time off it’s so important to make the most of it. I’ve struggled with that in the past, making the most of your time off. There’s a lot of responsibility for us as players to look after ourselves and our bodies. We’re not machines at the same time, so it’s about finding a balance.”
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