Alright, so I’ve been trying to get a bit of that Aitana Bonmatí magic into my own game lately. You see her play, and it’s just… wow. Smooth, smart, always seems to have an extra second on the ball. So, I thought, how hard can it be to pick up a few of her signature moves? Turns out, pretty darn hard, but I’ve been giving it a go.
Getting Started: Observation Overload
First thing I did was just watch a ton of her clips. I mean, hours of it. YouTube, match highlights, compilations – you name it. I was trying to pinpoint what exactly makes her so good. It’s not just one thing, you know? It’s a whole package. But I tried to break it down. Her first touch is immaculate, her ability to turn in tight spaces, her vision… it’s a lot.
I started with what I thought would be the “easiest” – her quick turns. You know, when she receives the ball with her back to a defender and just spins away into space. Looked simple enough on screen.
The Awkward First Attempts
So, I went down to the local park with a ball. Me, myself, and I. And a couple of cones to act as imaginary defenders. My first few tries? Absolute disaster. I was either tripping over my own feet, kicking the ball too far, or turning right into where a defender would have been. It felt incredibly clumsy. I quickly realized that watching and doing are two very different universes.
What I noticed immediately:
- Her body shape before she even gets the ball is key. She’s already checking her shoulder, already knows where the space is. I was just reacting.
- Her first touch isn’t just stopping the ball; it’s setting her up for the next move, often taking it into the turn. My first touch was just… well, a touch.
- She’s so low to the ground, so balanced. I felt like a giraffe on roller skates in comparison.
Breaking it Down: One Piece at a Time
I figured I couldn’t learn it all at once. So, I decided to focus on individual components. First up: the ‘scan’. I literally started just walking around the pitch, pretending to receive passes, and forcing myself to look over both shoulders before the imaginary ball arrived. Felt a bit silly, but I could see how it would help.
Then, the first touch. I spent ages just passing the ball against a wall, trying to control it with different parts of my foot, aiming to take it in a specific direction with that first touch. Trying to get it soft, but also purposeful. It’s harder than it looks to kill the pace of a ball and move it exactly where you want in one fluid motion.
Next, the turn itself. I set up a cone and practiced receiving the ball, opening my body, and using the inside or outside of my foot to take it away. Lots of repetition. Lots of mistakes. Sometimes the ball would get stuck under my feet. Other times I’d turn too wide. But slowly, very slowly, it started to feel a tiny bit more natural.
Trying to Combine It (and Failing a Bit More)
Once I felt slightly more comfortable with the individual bits, I tried putting them together. Receive, scan (or try to remember to!), touch, turn. It was still clunky. The timing was off. I’d do one part okay, then mess up the next. It’s like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach while reciting the alphabet backwards.
The biggest challenge for me has been doing it under any kind of pressure, even just a friend lightly jogging towards me. Bonmatí does this stuff with world-class athletes breathing down her neck. My brain just sort of short-circuits when someone gets close.
Small Progress and What I’ve Learned
But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom! I’ve definitely seen some improvement. My awareness is a bit better. My first touch, while not Bonmatí-level (not even close!), is more considered. And every now and then, in a casual kickabout, I’ll manage a half-decent turn that actually creates some space. Those moments feel great, like a little reward for all the fumbling.
What I’m really taking away from this whole process is a deeper appreciation for the sheer skill and intelligence of players like her. It’s not just physical; it’s so much about quick thinking, anticipation, and an almost intuitive understanding of space and movement. It’s a constant work in progress for me, but it’s been a fun challenge. I’m still out there, trying to get a little bit smoother, a little bit smarter with the ball at my feet. Maybe one day I’ll manage a turn that doesn’t make me look like I’m about to fall over. A guy can dream, right?
