“Better Than Yesterday”- Jonatan Giraldez Still Coping With Washington Spirit’s NWSL Final Loss to Orlando Pride

The 2024 NWSL final was an emotional rollercoaster. After finishing as the top two sides during the regular season, Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit faced off in a thrilling showdown, with Marta and Co. narrowly defeating Trinity Rodman and Co. Even though weeks have passed since the dramatic clash, Spirit boss Jonatan Giraldez remains deeply affected, describing himself as feeling ‘worse than tomorrow.’  

Well, one has to feel for the Spanish tactician. After all, the Washington, D.C.-based club fell short against the Florida-based team not once but twice. Beyond missing their chance to win the NWSL Championship, the Spirit also narrowly lost the NWSL Shield by just 4 points, finishing second with 56 points, behind the Pride, who secured the league title with 60 points. So how is Giraldez holding up with the double heartbreak? Well, know for yourself.

“Today I’m doing better than yesterday and probably worse than tomorrow,” he began during an exclusive chat with AS. “It takes a few days to manage it, but we’re trying to see things in perspective. I consider myself a very demanding person on a day-to-day basis. Surely if you had asked me before coming, we would have signed up to be the second-best team in the league,” added the 33-year-old.

It was in late June that Giraldez had joined the Spirits. Accordingly, this represents a remarkable achievement, helping Rodman and her team finish the 2024 NWSL season as the second-best side. Then again, hope remains for them to bounce back next season and aim for the top spot at all costs.

Notably, out of the 26 games, the Spirits held a record of 18 wins, 2 draws, and 6 losses compared to the Pride’s record of 18 wins, 6 draws, and 2 losses. Of course, both sides had been similar throughout the season, but in the NWSL final, things seemed different despite Orlando’s win.

Giraldez’s side took a whopping 26 shots out of which 5 were on target, while also maintaining a 58% possession and completing 374 passes. Meanwhile, Seb Hines’ side managed to take just 9 shots out of which just 3 were on target, retaining a 42% possession and completing 276 passes. No wonder Giraldez called his side the better one.

“For me, we were better in the final. Obviously it’s no consolation, but in terms of the number of chances, the game plan… the way the game went, we deserved the victory. So, now, it’s time toNone accept defeat as part of the process,” added Jonatan in an interview.

Then again, despite all such differences in the statistics, Giraldez had praise for a rival star for whom winning the NWSL was quite important.

Marta ‘deserved’ to win the NWSL Championship, says Jonatan Giraldez

The Brazilian icon had to wait more than 7 years to lift her first league title. Keeping that in mind, Giraldez had nothing but respect for the rival’s star player. “She is a player who has marked an era and she is truly a legend in this league and in Brazil and I would say around the world,” remarked the former Barcelona Femeni boss.

Then again, for Jonatan, even the 38-year-old star wasn’t up to the mark in the finals but did give her a shoutout for scoring the winning goal for Pride in the semifinals. “We were very close but, deep down, I am also happy, because it is a title that Marta deserved,” added the Spaniard.

While it’s good that Jonatan Giraldez has respect for the rivals, let’s hope he gets over the NWSL upset quickly.