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From Emma Sanders
BBC Sport
When England ahead Toni Duggan faces former club Manchester City it will bring back memories of some time prior Spanish courses and training sessions using Kieran Trippier.
Duggan, 28, will go back to the Academy Stadium at the first leg of the tie, and swapped Barcelona for Atletico Madrid this summer after spending four years in City.
She won four big titles at City and has been part of the England squads that finished fourth and third in the 2015 and 2019 Womens World Cups.
In a broad interview with BBC Sport, Duggan talks about Spanish culture, friendship with prior Tottenham defender Trippier along with also thehumiliation of last seasons Champions League final defeat.
Liverpool-born Duggan moved to Spain but might have returned to England if she left Barcelona in the summer.
Manchester United were reportedly an alternative but following amad move window chose Spanish champions Atletico.
It was a bit up in the atmosphere. There have been opportunities in countries that are various but Atletico have been the club at the time. Their style of play suits me down into the floor, Duggan told BBC Sport.
Ive only missed one year competing in the Champions League – that was my very first year in Manchester City and it had been difficult. My options were rather limited when you consider that up.
Duggan admits she overlooks home a lot and it can behard being apart from your family.
I felt this way at Barcelona and that I believe I miss it even more now, she said. Football is a short career so that you need to take the chances when they come.
Family come out to support me however its not the same as sitting in the living room together along with my brothers and my mom, all winding each other up and doing things that you dont have to perform.
But family is not the only matter Duggan misses.
I do not half miss a roast! I discovered a place in Barcelona and I attempted to go down there every Sunday. I want to find anyone in Madrid.
One of Duggans biggest challenges was studying the language and after admitting shecouldnt relax at Barcelona her Spanish hasquite improved at Madrid.
In Barcelona they are treated by them by speaking Catalan too. There were times when you thought you were doing really well then someone talked in Catalan and you couldnt comprehend a phrase and were a bit perplexed, said Duggan.
I wouldnt be overly confident performing a complete interview in Spanish but I can surely get by.
Duggan says Spains training styles area different degree to exactly what she used to in England.
A great deal of it was with the ball in Barcelona and it is quite similar in Madrid, she explained. All of the women are extremely technical – more than in England. They put a huge emphasis.
Physically, I dont believe the Spanish league is quite at the level of England but its been really interesting seeing the abilities they do.
The difference between Atletico and Barcelona – their styles are so different.
The girls game ison the up at Spain states Duggan, who scored for former club Barcelona in a 2-0 win over Atletico before 60,739 lovers at the Wanda Metropolitano final year – a list for a top-flight domestic womens match in Europe.
Former Tottenham defender Trippier combined Duggan in Atletico Madrid signing up up a deal.
The pair traded messages that were routine before catching up at a training session.
I have talked to him quite a bit, said Duggan. We were in the identical complicated for its first few months but I kept him.
Id see Diego Costa and the other players but never seemed to catch Kieran.
We had a coaching session 2 weeks back and I was able to catch up with him then.
His loved ones are over here and hes taking Spanish classes – he is actually trying hard in that regard. He said the supervisor speaks so quickly, he wants to attempt to pick up it.
He is really satisfied with the decision hes made. Its fine that I have that support from him now and of course, I give it to him also.
More English players are moving to Europe and Duggan says it is because players like the Lucy Bronze and Izzy Christiansen of England – that joined Champions League winners Lyon at 2018 and 2017 respectively – have done.
I think that its really good for the English game for people to go out and examine themselves. It does challenge you and improve you. That will help England as a group.
People are not as nervous as they were before. It is the same from the mens match since Jadon [Sancho] is performing really well at Borussia Dortmund and today Trippier here in Atletico.
Duggan moved looking for a Champions League title and started last year.
However, Barcelonas 4-1 defeat by Lyon abandoned herdevastated andhumiliated.
England were on duty before the World Cup and I knew each one of the staff were sitting there watching on a large monitor, she says.
I couldnt get that out of my head – the night after the game it was all I could consider.
When I turned up into the England camp afterwards, people were sayingwell done for getting that much. But it felt as though this wasnt great enough. You go to finals to acquire it
A quarter-final place is up for grabs against City and if asked if playing against her England team-mates includes validity, Duggan stated:Yes – I want to win.
I am convinced City will need some revenge [for last seasons defeat by Atletico]. I dont wish to turn up to the global break while theyre speaking about being at another round of the Champions League and Im not.
I need to win this battle. I want to win every match but I want to win more so against City or any other ex-club.
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