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By Emma Sanders
BBC Sport
When England forward Toni Duggan faces former team Manchester City it is going to bring back memories of the time before Spanish lessons and training sessions using Kieran Trippier.
Duggan certainly will return to the Academy Stadium at the first leg of their last-16 tie, and swapped Barcelona for Atletico Madrid this summer after spending four years at City.
She won four titles and has been a part of the England squads that finished fourth and third at the 2015 and 2019 Womens World Cups respectively.
In a wide-ranging meeting with BBC Sport, Duggan talks about Roman culture, friendship with prior Tottenham guardian Trippier and theembarrassment of last seasons Champions League final defeat.
Once she abandoned Barcelona in the summer liverpool-born Duggan moved to Spain two years back but might have returned to England.
Manchester United were reportedly an alternative but after amad move window chose Spanish champions Atletico.
It was a bit up in the atmosphere. There were opportunities in different countries but Atletico were the club at the right moment. Their style of play suits me down into the floor, Duggan told BBC Sport.
Ive just missed one year competing in the Champions League — which was my first year in Manchester City and it was difficult. My options were fairly limited when you consider up that.
Duggan admits she stillmisses home a lot and it could bedifficult being away from your family.
I felt the way at Barcelona and I believe I miss it now, she explained. Football is a short career so that you have to take the opportunities in the future.
Family come to help me however its not the same as sitting in the living room together along with my brothers and my mum, all winding up each other and doing things that you dont have to do.
But family is.
I do not half miss out a roast! I discovered a location and every Sunday I attempted to return there. I need to find one in Madrid.
Among Duggans biggest challenges was studying the language after acknowledging shecouldnt relax in Barcelona her Spanish hasvery improved in Madrid.
In Barcelona they are treated by them by speaking Catalan as well. There were times when you believed you were doing very well then someone talked in Catalan and you couldnt comprehend a sentence and were somewhat perplexed, said Duggan.
I would not be overly confident performing a full meeting in Spanish but I can certainly get by.
Duggan says Spains coaching styles area different level to that which she used to in England.
A lot of it was with the ball at Barcelona and it is very similar in Madrid, she said. All the women are technical — more so than in England. They place a large emphasis.
Physically, I dont believe the Spanish team is quite at the level of England but its been quite interesting regarding the skills that they do.
The difference between Atletico and Barcelona — their personalities are so different
The girls game ison the up in Spain states Duggan, who shopped for former club Barcelona at a 2-0 triumph over Atletico facing 60,739 lovers at the Wanda Metropolitano last season — a list for a top-flight domestic womens game in Europe.
Former Tottenham defender Trippier joined Duggan at Atletico Madrid this summer, signing up a deal.
The pair traded messages , before finally grabbing at a training session.
I have talked to him a little, said Duggan. We were at precisely the identical complex for its first few weeks but I kept missing him.
Id see Diego Costa and another players but never seemed to catch Kieran.
We had a training session two weeks back and I managed to catch up with him then.
His loved ones are here and hes taking Spanish lessons — hes really trying hard in this regard. He explained the supervisor speaks so quickly, he would like to try and pick up it.
He is really pleased with the conclusion that hes made. It is fine that I have that assistance from him today and of course, I give it to him also.
More players are going to Europe and Duggan says its because players enjoy Izzy Christiansen and Englands Lucy Duggan — who joined Champions League winners Lyon at 2017 and 2018 respectively — have done well.
I think that its really good for your English game for individuals to go away and examine themselves. It does challenge you and improve you as a person. That will only help England as a national group.
People arent as worried as they were previously. Its the exact same in the mens match because Jadon [Sancho] is performing very well at Borussia Dortmund and Trippier here at Atletico.
Duggan began a year and moved looking for a Champions League title.
But Barcelonas 4-1 defeat by Lyon left herdevastated andhumiliated.
England were on duty before the World Cup and that I understood all the team were sitting there watching on a large display, she says.
I could not get that from my mind — the night after the game it was all that I could consider.
When I turned up to the England camp afterwards, people were sayingwell done for getting that way. However, for mepersonally, it felt as though this wasnt good. You go to finals to acquire it.
A quarter-final location is up for grabs against City and if asked if playing her England team-mates adds validity, Duggan stated:Yes I need to win.
I am convinced City will want some payback [for last years defeat by Atletico]. While theyre currently speaking about being in the next round of the Champions League, I really dont wish to turn up to the next break and I am not.
I want to win that battle. I would like to win every match but I need to acquire more so against City or some other ex-club.
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